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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On March 31, 2011, proud residents of Reeves County |
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are gathering at the State Capitol to celebrate their county's |
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achievements; and |
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WHEREAS, Habitation of Reeves County began in prehistoric |
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times, with the earliest residents dwelling in rock shelters and |
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caves in the Barilla Hills, where artifacts and pictographs provide |
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clues to their way of life; by the time Spanish explorer Antonio de |
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Espejo visited the region in 1583, the Jumano Indians had |
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established irrigated crops of corn and peaches, and farmers of |
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Mexican descent later prospered in the fertile Madera Valley; the |
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first Anglo farmers arrived in Toyah Valley in the early 1870s; and |
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WHEREAS, Bringing a new era, the Texas and Pacific Railway |
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arrived in 1881; the county was organized three years later and |
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named after George R. Reeves, a state legislator and colonel in the |
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Confederate army; Pecos, the county seat, attracted colorful |
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characters as a crossroads for cattle trails and the railroad, and |
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its frontier days saw several infamous gunfights; a roping and |
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riding competition staged on the Fourth of July in 1883 established |
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a robust rodeo tradition perpetuated with the annual West of the |
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Pecos Rodeo, which is marking its 129th anniversary in June; and |
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WHEREAS, Ranching and farming remain vibrant components of |
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the Reeves County economy; the alkaline soil and optimal growing |
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conditions produce the Pecos cantaloupe, known nationwide for its |
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flavor, as well as cotton, pecans, pistachios, and other crops; oil |
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and natural gas represent another aspect of the economy, while |
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tourists are drawn by the scenery, including such spots as the |
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spring-fed pool at Balmorhea State Park, and by the West of the |
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Pecos Museum, which offers the unique opportunity to explore the |
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rooms of a historic hotel and saloon; and |
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WHEREAS, Rich in Western heritage and natural beauty, Reeves |
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County can boast of many distinctive features, and its citizens may |
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take justifiable pride in the important role their unique region |
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continues to play in the story of the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2011, as Reeves County Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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best wishes for a memorable and productive stay in Austin. |