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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 621
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WHEREAS, Residents of Panola County are gathering in |
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Austin on April 12, 2011, to celebrate Panola County Day at the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in northeastern Texas and forming part of |
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the state's border with Louisiana, Panola County covers more than |
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800 square miles of forests and rolling plains and is traversed |
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by the Sabine River; the area experienced a land rush in the 1830s |
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as settlers arrived from the southern United States; on March 30, |
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1846, the Texas Legislature officially created Panola County, |
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and two years later, voters chose Carthage as the county seat; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, It is believed that Judge John Allison, a |
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prominent civic leader, suggested the name Panola, which may be |
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derived from the Cherokee word for cotton, ponolo; the area's |
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rich soil was well-suited to the crop, and cotton became the |
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county's main cash product; today, Panola County enjoys a |
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diversified economy, primarily based in oil and gas production, |
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agriculture, food processing, and timber; the lush forests also |
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make the county a popular destination for hiking, birding, and |
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camping enthusiasts, while anglers enjoy the good fishing waters |
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of Martin Creek Lake and Murvaul Lake; and |
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WHEREAS, Home to nearly 50 Texas Historical Commission |
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markers, Panola County was the birthplace of several notable |
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Texans, including Margie Elizabeth Neal, the first woman elected |
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to serve in the Texas Senate, and country music stars Tex Ritter |
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and Jim Reeves; a museum dedicated to Mr. Ritter and a memorial |
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devoted to Mr. Reeves are located in Carthage, as is the Texas |
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Country Music Hall of Fame, which honors the legacies of both of |
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these men, along with other country music legends from the state; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Carthage, which has been named a National Main |
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Street City in Texas for 2011, is also home to the historic |
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Esquire Theater, which plays host to the Country Music Hayride |
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every Saturday night; other popular events taking place in the |
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county seat include the Piney Woods Quilt Festival in April and |
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the East Texas Oil and Gas Blast in October, which features live |
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music, a car show, and arts and crafts; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Panola County have long made an |
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important contribution to the Lone Star State, and it is most |
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fitting that they be honored on this special day; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby recognize April 12, 2011, as Panola County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to |
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Austin. |
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Eltife |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 23, 2011. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |