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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Young Men's Business League, the |
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South Texas State Fair is being held in Beaumont from March 26 |
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through April 5, 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, The South Texas State Fair dates back to 1907, but it |
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was not until 1942 that the Young Men's Business League began |
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hosting it; at that time, the United States was preoccupied with |
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World War II, and many fairs across the country had ceased |
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operations; however, city and military officials requested that the |
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event be held in Beaumont to serve as a source of entertainment for |
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the soldiers who were stationed in the area, and it became known as |
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the "YMBL Victory Fair"; by 1957, the event had adopted its current |
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name, and it drew more than 250,000 spectators; since then, |
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attendance has grown to more than half a million residents of 10 |
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counties in Southeast Texas and three parishes in Southwest |
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Louisiana; although the South Texas State Fair was cancelled in |
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2005 due to the devastating impact that Hurricane Rita had on |
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Jefferson County, it returned the following year, and it is still |
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going strong today; and |
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WHEREAS, Organized in 1917, the Young Men's Business League |
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has more than 1,000 members who work together to improve the quality |
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of life for residents of Beaumont and Southeast Texas; the group |
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focuses its efforts on the areas of agriculture and commerce, |
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education, health, and government, and it also develops public |
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works projects and programs for youth and senior citizens; proceeds |
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from the fair support the organization's many service initiatives, |
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as well as other charitable institutions; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its rich history, the South Texas State |
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Fair has remained a cherished tradition for area residents, and it |
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is indeed a pleasure to recognize the Young Men's Business League |
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for its continued efforts in behalf of the community; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 2009 South Texas State Fair and |
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extend to its organizers and attendees sincere best wishes for a |
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memorable and successful event; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Young Men's Business League as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |