|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Port Aransas are gathering in |
|
|
|
Austin to celebrate Port Aransas Day at the State Capitol on |
|
|
|
February 9, 2011; and |
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The town's location on Mustang Island was first |
|
|
|
inhabited by the Karankawa Indians, and in the early 1800s, it was |
|
|
|
frequented by the famed buccaneer Jean Lafitte; the natural passage |
|
|
|
between the island and St. Joseph Island was originally named |
|
|
|
Aranzazu and later became known as Aransas Pass; and |
|
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1855, an English sheep and cattle rancher named |
|
|
|
Robert A. Mercer built a cabin on Mustang Island at the site that |
|
|
|
later became the town; Elihu Harrison Ropes started a project to dig |
|
|
|
a channel across the island in 1890, and the community that grew |
|
|
|
around the new post office was called Ropesville; in 1896, it was |
|
|
|
renamed Tarpon to highlight the island's fine fishing, and in 1911, |
|
|
|
the town was officially designated as Port Aransas; and |
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Since World War II, the city has become one of the |
|
|
|
most popular resort destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast; the |
|
|
|
superb beaches of nearby Mustang Island State Park draw campers, |
|
|
|
swimmers, and surfers from across the Lone Star State, and the |
|
|
|
town's launching ramps and three lighted piers enable anglers to |
|
|
|
catch a wide diversity of fish, including red snapper, shark, sand |
|
|
|
trout, tuna, and bonito; and |
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Port Aransas is also one of the top bird-watching |
|
|
|
destinations in the nation, and the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding |
|
|
|
Center, the Port Aransas Wetland Park, and other nature centers |
|
|
|
afford fine opportunities to view local species such as herons and |
|
|
|
roseate spoonbills as well as the annual migrations of |
|
|
|
hummingbirds, flycatchers, and orioles; and |
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The rich variety of sea life that resides along the |
|
|
|
Gulf Coast can be appreciated at the aquariums at The University of |
|
|
|
Texas Marine Science Institute; visitors also delight in the town's |
|
|
|
many fine art galleries, shops, seafood restaurants, and hotels, |
|
|
|
including the historic Tarpon Inn, which has hosted such famous |
|
|
|
visitors as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and movie star Hedy |
|
|
|
Lamarr; and |
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Blessed with natural beauty and a colorful history, |
|
|
|
Port Aransas is one of the jewels of the Lone Star State, and its |
|
|
|
citizens may indeed take great pride in their heritage and ongoing |
|
|
|
achievements; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize February 9, 2011, as Port Aransas Day |
|
|
|
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
|
|
|
best wishes for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin. |
|
|
Hunter |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 125 was adopted by the House on |
|
February 9, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|