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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Residents of Sabine Pass are gathering on May 3, |
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2009, to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the founding of their |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, First settled in the early 1830s, the town of Sabine |
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City was officially established on January 19, 1839, by a charter |
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signed by General Sam Houston; the Sabine City Company began to |
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advertise lots in the town on May 1, 1839, and in 1860, the city |
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changed its name to Sabine Pass; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1800s, Sabine Pass was a major port on the |
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Gulf of Mexico, an important shipping point for cattle and cotton; |
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during the Civil War, the port was defended by Forts Sabine and |
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Griffin, and the town was the site of the Battle of Sabine Pass on |
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September 8, 1863, when Confederate gunners drove off an attack by |
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four Union gunboats; and |
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WHEREAS, Sabine Pass is the birthplace of Pattillo Higgins, |
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the entrepreneur who helped initiate the Spindletop oil strike in |
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the early 1900s; the town is also the birthplace of J. P. |
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Richardson, the rock 'n' roll star known as the Big Bopper; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1978, the community has been part of Port |
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Arthur; its economy continues to depend on the oil industry, |
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commercial fishing, and marine repair; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Sabine Pass has been hit hard |
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by hurricanes; an 1886 storm killed 86 people and almost destroyed |
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the town, and Hurricanes Rita, Humberto, Gustav, and Ike are |
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responsible for more recent damage; after each devastating event, |
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however, the people of Sabine Pass have come together to rebuild and |
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restore the vitality of their community; and |
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WHEREAS, The hardy spirit of Sabine Pass remains strong, and |
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its citizens may indeed take pride in their rich history as they |
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celebrate a notable milestone; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate the 170th anniversary of the founding of Sabine |
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Pass and extend to its residents sincere best wishes for a |
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meaningful and memorable 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 community of Sabine Pass as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. |