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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Vernon and Wilbarger County are |
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gathering to celebrate Wilbarger County and City of Vernon Day at |
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the State Capitol on March 8, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated upon the rolling grasslands of North Texas, |
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Wilbarger County was once part of the buffalo hunting grounds of the |
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Comanche; named for early settlers Josiah and Mathias Wilbarger, |
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the county was established in 1858; a branch of the Great Western |
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Trail passed through the area, and from 1879 to 1895, some six |
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million head of cattle traversed the Red River at Doan's Crossing |
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during the great drives north; oil, discovered in the early 20th |
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century, remains important to the region's economy; and |
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WHEREAS, County seat Vernon, designated by voters in 1881, |
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was originally called Eagle Flat for the abundance of nesting |
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eagles nearby; today, the city is a center for farming, ranching, |
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and the petroleum industry; the birthplace of rock and roll legend |
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Roy Orbison, the town is also home to Vernon College and the Red |
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River Valley Museum, which chronicles the history, culture, and |
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geography of the region; and |
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WHEREAS, Formed in the mid-19th century, the Waggoner Ranch, |
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south of Vernon, became the largest ranch in the state under one |
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fence, and it is a five-time winner of the Texas Ranch Roundup; the |
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Santa Rosa Palomino Club is a renowned precision equestrian riding |
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club, and the club's annual Santa Rosa Roundup in Vernon draws |
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thousands of visitors and top professional rodeo riders; residents |
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and visitors alike also enjoy the picnic every May at Doan's |
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Crossing, a more than 130-year tradition that is one of the oldest |
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annual events in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating their fascinating history as they work |
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together to build a bright future, the citizens of Vernon and |
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Wilbarger County may take justifiable pride in the important role |
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their unique region continues to play in the story of the Lone Star |
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State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 8, 2017, as Wilbarger County and |
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City of Vernon Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting |
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delegation sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable |
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stay in Austin. |