H.R. No. 322

	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 February 10, 2015; 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 and recently became
	the home of TenarisBayCity, an international pipe manufacturing
	company, 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 Preserve 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 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2015, 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 Guerra Otto
	Allen Guillen Paddie
	Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
	Alvarado Harless Paul
	Anchia Hernandez Peña
	Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
	Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
	Ashby Huberty Pickett
	Aycock Hughes Price
	Bell Hunter Raney
	Blanco Isaac Raymond
	Bohac Israel Reynolds
	Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
	Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
	Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
	Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
	Button King of Parker Rose
	Canales King of Taylor Sanford
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
	Clardy Klick Schofield
	Coleman Koop Shaheen
	Collier Krause Sheets
	Cook Kuempel Sheffield
	Craddick Landgraf Simmons
	Crownover Larson Simpson
	Dale Laubenberg Smith
	Darby Leach Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
	Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
	Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
	Dukes Márquez Stickland
	Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
	Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
	Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
	Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
	Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
	Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles VanDeaver
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White of Bell
	Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
	Geren Murphy Workman
	Giddings Murr Wray
	Goldman Naishtat Wu
	Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
	González Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 322 was adopted by the House on February
	10, 2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House