H.R. No. 695

	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 3, 2015; 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 24 cities of Brazoria County boast
	excellent schools and affordable housing; visitors and residents
	alike take great pleasure in miles of sandy beaches, bay and
	offshore fishing, scuba diving, outstanding bird-watching, and the
	Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges; the county is
	also home to many antique shops and scenic parks, one of the largest
	county fairs in Texas, and the Nolan Ryan Center; and
	WHEREAS, The educational opportunities available to students
	at Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, and the University
	of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus further contribute to the
	county's many amenities; and
	WHEREAS, The largest chemical complex in North America, the
	Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, and a flourishing health care
	industry are among the major contributors to economic growth in the
	county, and Port Freeport, ranked 24th in the United States in
	foreign tonnage, is one of the fastest growing ports on the Gulf
	Coast; 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 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 3, 2015, as Brazoria County Day
	at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
	wishes for a memorable and meaningful stay in Austin.
	Bonnen of Brazoria
	Straus González Otto
	Allen Guerra Paddie
	Alonzo Guillen Parker
	Alvarado Gutierrez Paul
	Anchia Harless Peña
	Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phelan
	Anderson of McLennan Herrero Phillips
	Ashby Howard Pickett
	Aycock Huberty Price
	Bell Hughes Raney
	Bernal Hunter Raymond
	Blanco Isaac Reynolds
	Bohac Israel Riddle
	Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rinaldi
	Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar
	Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis
	Burns Keough Romero, Jr.
	Burrows King of Hemphill Rose
	Button King of Parker Sanford
	Canales King of Taylor Schaefer
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Schofield
	Clardy Klick Schubert
	Coleman Koop Shaheen
	Collier Krause Sheets
	Cook Kuempel Sheffield
	Craddick Landgraf Simmons
	Crownover Larson Simpson
	Cyrier Laubenberg Smith
	Dale Leach Smithee
	Darby Longoria Spitzer
	Davis of Dallas Lozano Springer
	Davis of Harris Lucio III Stephenson
	Deshotel Márquez Stickland
	Dukes Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
	Dutton Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
	Elkins McClendon Tinderholt
	Faircloth Menéndez Turner of Collin
	Fallon Metcalf Turner of Harris
	Farias Meyer Turner of Tarrant
	Farney Miles VanDeaver
	Farrar Miller of Comal Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Flynn Moody Walle
	Frank Morrison White of Bell
	Frullo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
	Galindo Murphy Workman
	Geren Murr Wray
	Giddings Naishtat Wu
	Goldman Nevárez Zedler
	Gonzales Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 695 was adopted by the House on March 3,
	2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House