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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Residents of the cities of Tyler, Longview, and |
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Kilgore are celebrating East Texas Coalition Days at the State |
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Capitol from February 28 to March 1, 2011, and this occasion |
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provides an ideal opportunity to extol the many virtues of these |
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three communities; and |
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WHEREAS, Claiming the title "Rose Capital of the Nation," |
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Tyler is well known for the flowers that are grown and displayed to |
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great effect at the Municipal Rose Garden, at the Tyler Rose Museum, |
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and in other locations throughout the city; the community also |
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benefits from the natural beauty of its urban forests and nearby |
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bodies of water and offers popular destinations such as the |
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Caldwell Zoo, Discovery Science Place, and the Tyler Museum of Art, |
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as well as opportunities for boating and fishing on Lakes Palestine |
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and Tyler and an ample supply of golf courses; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 18,000 students pursue higher education at |
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The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler Junior College, The |
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University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, and Texas |
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College, and Tyler is the medical headquarters of the region, |
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boasting numerous health care institutions as well as the academic |
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research facility; and |
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WHEREAS, Energy and industry have powered the city of |
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Longview through nearly a century and a half of growth and progress, |
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a dynamic story that is told at the Gregg County Historical Museum; |
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originally an agricultural community, Longview changed forever |
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when oil was discovered in the area, and the vast reserves of the |
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East Texas Oilfield helped America become a world power; petroleum |
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continues to play a key role in the city's economy, but a diverse |
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range of other commercial endeavors has been established there, |
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including manufacturing, lignite mining, and tourism; and |
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WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike enjoy the Longview |
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Museum of Fine Arts and the Great Texas Balloon Race, and the town |
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is the site of LeTourneau University, founded by the inventor, |
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entrepreneur, businessman, and evangelist R. G. LeTourneau, whose |
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memorial museum and archives are located on the campus; among the |
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annual celebrations in the Longview area are the Roughneck Day |
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Festival in White Oak and East Texas Gusher Days in Gladewater; and |
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WHEREAS, Kilgore is another community that has played a |
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central role in the oil business, and it is known as the "City of |
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Stars" for the many star-topped derricks in the center of town, |
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which are lighted at Christmastime; in addition to being home to the |
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Rangerettes, the internationally famous drill team, Kilgore |
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College chronicles the history of "the world's richest acre" at its |
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East Texas Oil Museum; and |
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WHEREAS, Thanks to the efforts of its enterprising citizens, |
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Kilgore features both first-class entertainment like the Texas |
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Shakespeare Festival, which draws actors from across the nation, |
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and vintage small-town charm that welcomes tourists to the city's |
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antique shops and restaurants; well-known Kilgore natives include |
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celebrated pianist Van Cliburn and legendary Texas Ranger Manuel T. |
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"Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas; and |
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WHEREAS, The residents of these three notable cities are |
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justifiably proud of their heritage and of the many qualities that |
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make East Texas an outstanding place in which to live, work, and |
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raise a family, and it is indeed fitting to acknowledge and |
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celebrate the numerous contributions this region continues to make |
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to the development of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate February 28 to March 1, 2011, as East Texas |
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Coalition Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting |
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delegation sincere best wishes for a memorable and enjoyable stay |
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in Austin. |