H.R. No. 684

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Public-spirited citizens of Matagorda County are
	gathering in Austin to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the State
	Capitol on March 5, 2013; and
	WHEREAS, Taking its name from the Spanish phrase meaning
	"thick brush," this region of prairie, salt marshes, and coastal
	waterways was visited by the French explorer La Salle in 1685; the
	area constituted part of Stephen F. Austin's first colony, and
	settlers began arriving through Matagorda Bay during the winter of
	1821-1822; in 1829, the town of Matagorda was established as a
	military post, and in 1836, Matagorda County became one of the
	original 23 counties of the Republic of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Matagorda ranked as the second-largest seaport in
	Texas for a time and served as a shipping point for cotton, sugar,
	and livestock raised in the county; when the boll weevil endangered
	the cotton crop in the early 20th century, farmers began to grow
	rice, and the discovery of oil and sulfur further diversified the
	county's economy; and
	WHEREAS, Ranching, farming, and petroleum remain important,
	and the county also benefits from the presence of the South Texas
	Project nuclear plant, which generates enough electricity to power
	approximately two million homes in Texas; Bay City, the county
	seat, is a center of the petrochemical industry, while the port at
	Palacios is home to the largest fishing fleet on the Texas Gulf
	Coast; and
	WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the county's fine
	beaches and its many opportunities for fishing and water sports,
	while birders from across the nation are drawn to the Mad Island
	Marsh and Wildlife Management Area; Bay City is the location of
	several major annual attractions--the annual county fair,
	livestock show, and rodeo, which take place in the early spring, and
	the Rice Festival, which is held in the fall; in between those
	dates, Palacios hosts the Texas Fishermen's Seafood Festival, in
	December, and a reenactment of La Salle's landing, every Fourth of
	July; and
	WHEREAS, Matagorda County is an area of abundant natural
	resources and rich history, and its residents may take great pride
	in their notable heritage as they look forward to a future filled
	with promise; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 5, 2013, as Matagorda County Day
	at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
	best wishes for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin.
	Bonnen of Brazoria
	Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
	Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
	Alonzo Gooden Otto
	Alvarado Guerra Paddie
	Anchia Guillen Parker
	Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
	Ashby Harless Perez
	Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
	Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
	Bohac Herrero Pickett
	Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
	Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
	Branch Huberty Raney
	Burkett Hughes Ratliff
	Burnam Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Callegari Johnson Riddle
	Canales Kacal Ritter
	Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
	Clardy King of Parker Rose
	Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
	Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
	Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
	Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
	Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
	Creighton Krause Simmons
	Crownover Kuempel Simpson
	Dale Larson Smith
	Darby Laubenberg Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
	J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
	S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
	Deshotel Longoria Strama
	Dukes Lozano Taylor
	Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
	Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
	Elkins Martinez Toth
	Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
	Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
	Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White
	Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
	Giddings Murphy Wu
	Goldman Naishtat Zedler
	Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 684 was adopted by the House on March 5,
	2013, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House