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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Canton gathered on May 11, 2013, to |
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celebrate the dedication of an official Texas Historical Marker |
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honoring the life of one of the city's earliest settlers, G. W. |
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Tull, Sr.; and |
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WHEREAS, A pioneer in spirit as well as in deed, Mr. Tull |
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moved to Canton from Tennessee in 1858, after seeking his fortune in |
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the California gold fields; together with William B. Moore, he |
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established a successful mercantile business on the southwest |
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corner of the Canton Courthouse square; Mr. Tull bought out his |
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partner in 1860 and then operated the store by himself until his |
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death in 1917; his son, G. W. Tull, Jr., took over the business at |
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his father's passing and managed it until his own death in 1957; and |
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WHEREAS, Though he never held political office, G. W. Tull, |
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Sr., played a critical role in setting Canton on a path toward |
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prosperity; his business served as an anchor for the local business |
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community during the town's formative years, and in 1877 he helped |
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finance Canton's campaign to remain the county seat in a dispute |
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with Wills Point; later, he was responsible for the first brick |
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construction in the town when he hired H. A. Evans to erect a brick |
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building to house his store; largely through Mr. Tull's influence, |
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the town evolved from a dirt-road hamlet into a modern community |
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with other brick commercial establishments and brick-paved |
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streets; and |
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WHEREAS, Hosted by the Canton Main Street Program, the |
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dedication ceremony honoring Mr. Tull was followed by a program in |
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Hillcrest Cemetery arranged by the Hillcrest Cemetery Restoration |
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Committee; the event featured a costumed performance by Stanley |
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Tull, who took on the character of his illustrious ancestor; and |
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WHEREAS, A forward-looking businessman and civic leader, |
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G. W. Tull, Sr., made an immeasurable contribution to securing the |
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future of his community, and his notable place in Canton's history |
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is indeed deserving of recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an official Texas |
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Historical Marker honoring G. W. Tull, Sr., and commend all those |
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involved in bringing this worthy project to fruition. |