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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Fannin County are gathering at the |
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Texas State Capitol on March 4, 2009, to celebrate Fannin County |
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Day, and this occasion provides an opportunity to recognize the |
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rich history and significant accomplishments of this attractive |
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part of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, The first nonnative settlements in the area that |
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would become Fannin County were established in 1836, the year Texas |
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won its independence from Mexico; when the county was formed the |
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following year, it took its name from Colonel James Walker Fannin, |
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Jr., a commander of the Texan revolutionaries who had been killed in |
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the Goliad Massacre; Bonham, the county seat, was also named for an |
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independence hero, James Bonham, who died at the Alamo and is now |
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honored with a statue at the county courthouse; and |
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WHEREAS, A land of gently rolling hills bounded by the Red |
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River to the north, Fannin County provides good land for farming and |
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ranching, and those pursuits have been economic mainstays since the |
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county was established; today, cattle, corn, wheat, milo, pecans, |
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and hay are key products, and the many acres of farmland in the |
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county create a tranquil, pastoral landscape; other businesses such |
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as communications and manufacturing help to strengthen and |
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diversify the economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Bonham, with a population of almost 10,000, is the |
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county's largest city; it was the hometown of Sam Rayburn, the |
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legendary Texas politician who was a member of the congress for 48 |
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years and is the longest-serving speaker of the U.S. House of |
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Representatives; his legacy is recalled at the Sam Rayburn Library |
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and Museum and the Sam Rayburn House Museum; Bonham is also the site |
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of the Fannin County Museum of History, the Creative Arts Center, |
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and Fort Inglish Park, a replica of the stockade and log buildings |
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erected by early settlers; and |
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WHEREAS, Other well-known county attractions focus on |
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outdoor recreation; Lake Bonham comprises more than 1,000 acres of |
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water and is bordered by a golf course and camping facilities; |
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additional recreational lakes are found at Bonham State Park and |
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the Caddo National Grasslands preserve, and these public lands also |
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offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, biking, and other |
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activities; and |
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WHEREAS, Fannin County's 33,000 residents can take pride in |
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their area's rich history, productive businesses, and abundant |
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recreational activities, and it is an honor to pay tribute to their |
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many contributions to the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 4, 2009, as Fannin County Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend best wishes to the visitors from that |
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notable Texas county for an enjoyable and rewarding visit to |
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Austin. |