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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Uvalde County are gathering in |
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Austin on February 15, 2017, to celebrate Uvalde County Day at the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, The Uvalde area was once a hunting ground of the |
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Comanche, Tonkawa, and Lipan Apache peoples; a Spanish mission was |
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established in the region in 1762, and in 1790, Juan de Ugalde, the |
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governor of Coahuila, won a decisive victory over the Apaches; the |
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site of the battle was named in honor of the governor, and an |
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altered spelling of his name--Uvalde--was later applied to the |
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county; and |
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WHEREAS, Permanent settlers began to arrive in the 1850s, and |
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Uvalde County was established in 1856; a rough-and-tumble frontier |
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area during and after the Civil War, the county became a ranching |
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center in the late 1800s and was also renowned for its honey, which |
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took first prize at the Paris World's Fair in 1900; today, the |
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county's economy continues to be based on agribusiness, including |
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farming and the raising of livestock such as cattle, sheep, and |
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goats; and |
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WHEREAS, Four spring-fed rivers, the Nueces, Leona, Sabinal, |
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and Frio, have cut ruggedly beautiful canyons through the region's |
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rolling hills, and the county draws hunters from around the state |
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with its abundance of deer, quail, doves, and turkeys; swimmers, |
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campers, bird-watchers, and other outdoors enthusiasts enjoy the |
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scenic delights of Garner State Park, nestled in the hills near |
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Utopia, Concan, and Reagan Wells, and Cooks Slough Sanctuary and |
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Nature Park, just outside Uvalde; other notable communities include |
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Knippa, Cline, and Montell, and Sabinal is a popular ranch center |
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and retirement area; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded more than 150 years ago, the city of Uvalde |
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is the county seat and is home to a number of attractions; John |
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Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner, the 32nd vice president of the United |
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States, lived and practiced law there; former Texas governor Dolph |
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Briscoe Jr. was born and raised in the city and returned to it |
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following the completion of his terms in office; the Briscoe Art and |
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Antique Collection displays works collected by Governor Briscoe and |
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his wife, and the Aviation Museum at Garner Field houses World War |
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II memorabilia and aircraft in an original army airfield hangar; in |
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addition, the town hosts presentations by the Sahawe Indian |
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Dancers, who help preserve the Native American cultural practices |
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of the Southwest with their popular dance performances; and |
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WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their rich history, the |
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citizens of Uvalde County are looking ahead to the opportunities of |
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the future, and they may take great pride in the contributions that |
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this unique region has made to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 15, 2017, as Uvalde County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in |
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Austin. |