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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Cameron and Milam County |
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celebrated the dedication of an official Texas Historical Marker |
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honoring the First National Bank of Cameron on May 5, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the first banks in Texas to receive a national |
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charter, the First National Bank of Cameron opened for business on |
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August 22, 1889; it operated out of rented space until 1891, when |
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its original building was completed in downtown Cameron at the |
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corner of First and Houston Streets; and |
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WHEREAS, First National was organized by a group of local |
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entrepreneurs who wanted to provide the growing community with a |
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sound financial institution that would help local farms and |
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businesses succeed; chief among the founders was John M. Hefley, a |
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prominent farmer, rancher, and businessman, who invested the |
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$50,000 that served as the bank's original capital; Mr. Hefley was |
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elected as the bank's first president, a position he held, except |
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for a brief interval, until his death on December 20, 1903; and |
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WHEREAS, First National experienced slow, steady growth |
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until the early 1920s, when oil was discovered in Milam County and |
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cotton prices hit a record high; as the city and county boomed, so |
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did the bank; this increased prosperity allowed it to construct a |
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new, modern building at its downtown location; after the original |
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structure was demolished, a state-of-the-art facility was |
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completed on March 3, 1921; the central feature of the new bank was |
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its 22,000-pound vault; the bank continues to operate from this |
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building, which has undergone extensive renovations and updates |
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over the years; and |
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WHEREAS, With the onset of the Great Depression, many banks |
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in Milam County closed their doors, but First National was able to |
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weather the hard times; in 1933 it completed a reorganization to |
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ensure that it would remain stable and strong; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its history, First National has |
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benefited from the vision and skillful leadership of its |
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presidents; since 1998, it has been ably guided by Richard |
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Williams, under whom it has continued to serve the community and |
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prosper; the bank has extended its holdings in the area and now has |
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branches in Rockdale, Giddings, Rosebud, and Bastrop; in order to |
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unite all of its locations under one name, the board of trustees |
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renamed the system Classic Bank in November 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, For nearly 122 years, this venerable institution has |
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contributed to the growth and financial security of Cameron and |
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Milam County, and recognition by the Texas Historical Commission is |
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a fitting tribute to its vital role in the community; 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 commemorate the dedication of a Texas Historical |
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Marker at the First National Bank of Cameron and extend to all those |
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associated with the bank sincere best wishes for continued success; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the bank as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Schwertner |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1789 was adopted by the House on May |
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19, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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