H.R. No. 948

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brazoria County are gathering in
	Austin to celebrate Brazoria County Day at the State Capitol on
	March 19, 2013; and
	WHEREAS, This section of coastal prairie along the Brazos
	River was inhabited during the first three centuries of Texas'
	recorded history by the nomadic Karankawa Indians; the Spanish
	explorer Cabeza de Vaca passed through the region as early as 1528,
	and the pirate Jean Lafitte was rumored to have used the mouth of
	the Brazos as a refuge; and
	WHEREAS, The region was settled in the 1820s by members of
	Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred; Henry Smith of Brazoria
	served as the first American-born governor of the Mexican territory
	of Texas and as a leader of the movement for independence, and the
	town of Columbia served as the capital of Texas during the first
	Texas Congress; in 1836, Brazoria County became one of the original
	counties established by the new republic; and
	WHEREAS, Farming and ranching initially constituted the
	mainstays of the county's economy; the discovery of oil and sulfur
	deposits in the early 20th century helped the region grow, and
	chemical processing became increasingly important during World War
	II and after; commercial fishing and the recreation industry have
	helped to ensure continuing economic development; and
	WHEREAS, Today, the eight cities of the Brazosport
	area--Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Lake Jackson, Oyster Creek,
	Quintana, Richwood, and Surfside Beach--boast excellent schools
	and affordable housing; visitors and residents alike take great
	pleasure in miles of sandy beaches, bay and offshore fishing, scuba
	diving, and outstanding bird-watching at the Brazoria and San
	Bernard National Wildlife Refuges; and
	WHEREAS, Angleton, the county seat, abounds with antique
	shops and scenic parks and hosts the county fair, one of the largest
	in Texas, every October; the town of Alvin is home to the Nolan Ryan
	Center, which celebrates the career of its native son and Baseball
	Hall of Famer; moreover, the nearby town of Pearland is a center for
	the chemical and oil industries; and
	WHEREAS, The educational opportunities available to students
	at Alvin Community College and Brazosport College further
	contribute to the county's many amenities; and
	WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their rich heritage, the
	hardworking citizens of Brazoria County are looking ahead to the
	opportunities of the future and continuing to contribute greatly to
	the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be
	it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 19, 2013, as Brazoria County Day
	at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
	wishes for a memorable and meaningful stay in Austin.
	Thompson of Brazoria
	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. 948 was adopted by the House on March
	19, 2013, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House