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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Stewart Title Company of Houston, which is |
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celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2013, has achieved distinction |
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for its myriad contributions to the economic growth and prosperity |
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of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally known as Stewart Law and Land Title |
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Office, the company traces its beginnings to 1893, when attorney |
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Maco Stewart purchased Gulf City Abstract Company in Galveston; in |
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1905, Mr. Stewart and his brother, Minor, offered the first title |
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insurance to be sold in Texas; as the state grew, so did the need for |
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accurate land documentation, and the company played a major role in |
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the development of the title industry; Stewart Title Guaranty |
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Company was the first firm authorized to write title insurance in |
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Texas, and it soon opened offices in many major cities around the |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1956, Stewart Title began its expansion across |
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the nation; the holding company Stewart Information Services |
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Corporation was formed in 1970, and two years later it began trading |
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publicly on the New York Stock Exchange; by the 1990s, the company |
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had more than 2,700 branches and a presence in all 50 states; the |
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firm has repeatedly appeared in Forbes magazine's list of top |
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performing big companies, and in 2012 it was the only title company |
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to be named by Forbes as "One of America's Most Trustworthy |
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Companies"; and |
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WHEREAS, Stewart Title has long been a leading corporate |
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citizen in its home state; the business supports myriad community |
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initiatives, charitable organizations, educational programs, and |
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first-time homebuyer assistance efforts across Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission recognized Stewart |
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Title Company in 2007 with its Texas Treasure Business Award, an |
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accolade that pays tribute to those enterprises that have been in |
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continuous existence for at least half a century; and |
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WHEREAS, Stewart Title Company has built an outstanding |
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record over the course of its 120-year history, and it continues to |
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play a vital role in the Lone Star State by stimulating economic |
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growth, providing employment, and contributing to civic endeavors; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Stewart Title Company as a Texas Treasure |
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Business Award recipient and commend the company for the notable |
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part it has played in advancing the development of the Lone Star |
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State; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Stewart Title Company as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |