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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Rusk County are gathering in Austin on |
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April 22, 2009, to celebrate Rusk County Day at the State Capitol; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Four Spanish expeditions traveled through this |
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scenic region between 1691 and 1788, and Anglo settlers began to |
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arrive in large numbers after the Texas Revolution; in 1843, Rusk |
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County was formed, named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk, who had been |
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secretary of war in the Republic of Texas, and the new county seat |
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was named after James Pinckney Henderson, who soon became the first |
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governor of the State of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, For over 90 years, Rusk County's economy depended |
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mainly on the growing of cotton, but in 1930, Columbus M. "Dad" |
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Joiner struck oil with the Daisy Bradford No. 1 well, initiating one |
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of the richest oil booms in American history; in three years, the |
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amount of oil pumped out of Rusk County grew from 27,000 barrels in |
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1931 to over 200 million barrels in 1933, and wildcatters and |
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speculators poured into the county, turning Henderson into a lively |
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boomtown; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, oil and agriculture continue to be important |
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to the region's prosperity, along with lignite coal and natural |
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gas; the county is also an important center for the lumber industry, |
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and the area's distinctive clays are used to manufacture some of the |
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best bricks in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The colorful days of the 1930s oil boom are |
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recreated at the Gaston Museum in Joinerville, which is only two |
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miles from "Dad" Joiner's East Texas Discovery Well, and the Depot |
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Museum and Children's Discovery Center in Henderson features a |
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handsomely restored Missouri Pacific Railroad depot and several |
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other restored historic buildings from the 1800s; and |
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WHEREAS, Martin Creek Lake State Park offers ample |
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opportunities for recreation in the area, and the annual Heritage |
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Syrup Festival in November and the Wildflower Driving Trails every |
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spring delight residents and visitors alike; and |
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WHEREAS, Picturesque and historic Rusk County is home to |
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industrious and innovative citizens who can take great pride in |
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their heritage even as they look forward to a bright future; 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 recognize April 22, 2009, as Rusk County Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend to the county's visiting delegation |
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best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin. |