| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Uvalde County are gathering in |
|
|
Austin on February 25, 2015, to celebrate Uvalde County Day at the |
|
|
State Capitol; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Uvalde area was once a hunting ground of the |
|
|
Comanche, Tonkawa, and Lipan Apache peoples; a Spanish mission was |
|
|
established in the region in 1762, and in 1790, Juan de Ugalde, the |
|
|
governor of Coahuila, won a decisive victory over the Apaches; the |
|
|
site of the battle was named in honor of the governor, and an |
|
|
altered spelling of his name--Uvalde--was later applied to the |
|
|
county; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Permanent settlers began to arrive in the 1850s, and |
|
|
Uvalde County was established in 1856; a rough-and-tumble frontier |
|
|
area during and after the Civil War, the county became a ranching |
|
|
center in the late 1800s and was also renowned for its honey, which |
|
|
took first prize at the Paris World's Fair in 1900; today, the |
|
|
county's economy continues to be based on agribusiness, including |
|
|
farming and the raising of livestock such as cattle, sheep, and |
|
|
goats; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Four spring-fed rivers, the Nueces, Leona, Sabinal, |
|
|
and Frio, have cut ruggedly beautiful canyons through the region's |
|
|
rolling hills, and the county draws hunters from around the state |
|
|
with its abundance of deer, quail, doves, and turkey; swimmers, |
|
|
campers, bird-watchers, and other outdoors enthusiasts enjoy the |
|
|
scenic delights of Garner State Park, nestled in the hills near |
|
|
Utopia, Concan, and Reagan Wells, and Cooks Slough Sanctuary and |
|
|
Nature Park, just outside Uvalde; other notable communities include |
|
|
Knippa, Cline, and Montell, and Sabinal is a popular ranch center |
|
|
and retirement area; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Founded more than 150 years ago, the city of Uvalde |
|
|
is the county seat and is home to a number of attractions; John |
|
|
Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner, the 32nd vice president of the United |
|
|
States, lived and practiced law there; former Texas governor Dolph |
|
|
Briscoe Jr. was born and raised in the city and returned to it |
|
|
following the completion of his terms in office; the Briscoe Art and |
|
|
Antique Collection displays works collected by Governor Briscoe and |
|
|
his wife, and the Aviation Museum at Garner Field houses World War |
|
|
II memorabilia and aircraft in an original army airfield hangar; in |
|
|
addition, the town hosts presentations by the Sahawe Indian |
|
|
Dancers, who help preserve the Native American cultural practices |
|
|
of the Southwest with their popular dance performances; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich history even as they work to |
|
|
build a bright future, the citizens of Uvalde County may take great |
|
|
pride in the contributions that this unique region has made to the |
|
|
Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize February 25, 2015, as Uvalde County |
|
|
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
|
|
sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in |
|
|
Austin. |