SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 216

WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Frio County are gathering in Austin on February 19, 2013, to celebrate Frio County Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Located along the river from which it derives its name, Frio County features gently rolling plains, scattered prairie brush, and loamy soil that has made for ideal farmland; the area was once inhabited by Payaya and Pachal Indians, while the later presence of hostile Comanche mustangers discouraged settlement until after the Civil War; and

WHEREAS, On February 1, 1858, the Texas Legislature approved the formation of a new county out of parts of nearby Atascosa, Bexar, and Uvalde Counties, but it was not formally organized until 1871; in 1883 residents voted to have Pearsall designated as the county seat; and

WHEREAS, In the late 1800s, agriculture became more viable with the introduction of barbed wire and irrigation to the area, and railroads expanded the market for Frio County's many cash crops; cotton remained its primary product until the Great Depression, when local producers turned to peanuts as a more lucrative substitute; as the decades passed, farming and ranching were made more efficient by the use of such machinery as the squeeze chute and the peanut combine, the latter of which was invented by a Frio County farmer; and

WHEREAS, With the county favorably situated in the Eagle Ford shale region, oil has joined agriculture as one of the region's thriving industries, and today, a period of increased commerce and job growth is drawing new residents and businesses; and

WHEREAS, Frio County is known for its abundant wild game, and the Pearsall area is regarded as a "hunter's paradise" with approximately 675,000 acres of prime hunting grounds; other leisure attractions in the town of Pearsall itself include numerous parks and the Old Frio County Jail Museum; to the south, Dilley is Frio County's second-largest town; it has long been famous for its watermelons and its giant watermelon statue, but more recently, it is becoming known as the gateway to the Greater Eagle Ford Shale, as the county's citizens respond to the challenges and opportunities brought by new drilling technology and increased interest in their area from the oil and gas industry; and

WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they look forward to a future bright with promise, Frio County residents may take special pride in the unique contributions they are making to the history and prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby recognize February 19, 2013, as Frio County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin.

Uresti

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 19, 2013.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate