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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Rusk County are assembling at the |
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Texas State Capitol to celebrate Rusk County Days on April 2 and 3, |
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2013; and |
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WHEREAS, A picturesque region of rolling hills in the Piney |
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Woods of East Texas, Rusk County was first occupied by the Caddo and |
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the Cherokee tribes; the first European settlers arrived in the |
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1830s, and on January 16, 1843, the county was formed by act of the |
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Congress of the Republic of Texas and named after Thomas Jefferson |
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Rusk, secretary of war under Texas President Sam Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, For many years, the county's economy was based on |
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cotton and other agriculture, but on October 3, 1930, Columbus |
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Marion "Dad" Joiner struck oil at his famous Daisy Bradford #3 well, |
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opening up the East Texas oil field, which at the time was the |
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largest oil field in the world; three years later, Rusk County was |
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producing over 200 million barrels of petroleum a year, turning |
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county seat Henderson from a sleepy village to a bustling boomtown; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Oil and agriculture continue to be mainstays of the |
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county's economy, along with natural gas, timber, and the mining of |
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lignite coal; in addition, Rusk County's bricks, made from the |
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region's unique clay soil, are highly prized; the county economy is |
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further bolstered by two correctional institutions, including the |
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Bradshaw State Jail in Henderson; and |
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WHEREAS, Only two miles from "Dad" Joiner's original well, |
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the Gaston Museum in Joinerville commemorates the history of the |
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East Texas oil field; in Henderson, the Depot Museum, a beautifully |
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restored Missouri Pacific railway depot from 1901, hosts the annual |
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Heritage Syrup Festival every November; recreational opportunities |
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abound in the county's parks, including Martin Creek Lake State |
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Park, which offers swimming, boating, fishing, waterskiing, and |
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other activities; and |
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WHEREAS, Honoring their heritage as they embrace the |
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opportunities of the future, the citizens of Rusk County may take |
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great pride in the role their communities have played in the story |
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of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 2 and 3, 2013, as Rusk County |
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Days at the State Capitol and extend to the county's visiting |
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citizens a warm welcome and best wishes for an enjoyable stay in |
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Austin. |