H.R. No. 802

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Each year, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March
	17, and this occasion provides a welcome opportunity to honor the
	origins of the event and to highlight the many contributions that
	individuals of Irish descent have made to the Lone Star State; and
	WHEREAS, Born into a wealthy Romano-British family in the 4th
	century, St. Patrick was kidnapped at the age of 16 by Irish raiders
	and taken captive to the Emerald Isle; according to his writings,
	divine intervention allowed him to escape, and he entered the
	priesthood soon after; he later returned to Ireland and spent
	nearly 30 years teaching the island's residents about his faith,
	thereby becoming the principal champion of Irish Christianity in
	legend and folklore; St. Patrick's Day, which commemorates the day
	of his death in 461, has become a celebration of Irish heritage
	around the world, and in recent decades the government of Ireland
	has made the observance a centerpiece of its efforts to showcase the
	country and its culture; and
	WHEREAS, One of the earliest Irish residents of Texas was
	Hugh O'Connor, who served as governor of the Spanish territory from
	1767 to 1770; natives of Ireland also played a central role in the
	settlement of Texas in the early 1800s, including empresarios James
	McGloin, John McMullen, and James Power, who brought dozens of
	Irish families to South Texas and the Gulf Coast; and
	WHEREAS, All three of these men participated in the Texas
	Revolution, as did Irishmen such as John Joseph Linn, Francis Moore
	Jr., and Thomas William Ward; a dozen individuals from the Emerald
	Isle died defending the Alamo, and 100 Irish-born troops helped win
	the independence of Texas in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto; and
	WHEREAS, The number of immigrants from Ireland grew
	dramatically in the mid-1800s, and several prominent Irish natives
	made their mark during that period; Samuel McKinney was an early
	president of Austin College, Father Michael Sheehan established the
	first Catholic church in Austin and became one of the first
	full-time Catholic chaplains in the U.S. Army, and Peter Gallagher
	served as a Texas Ranger and helped organize Pecos County; later in
	the 19th century, Irishman John William Mallet served as the first
	faculty chair at The University of Texas at Austin, and artist Henry
	Arthur McArdle produced many famous paintings inspired by Texas
	history, some of which now hang in the State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Today, Irish culture is celebrated in formal
	programs such as the Center for Irish Studies at the University of
	St. Thomas in Houston, as well as in statewide St. Patrick's Day
	celebrations, and it is appropriate to join in recognizing the
	significant role that Irish Americans have played in the story of
	the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the state's vital Irish heritage
	and extend Happy St. Patrick's Day wishes to all Irish Americans.
	Murphy
	Fallon
	Miller
	Straus Goldman Oliverson
	Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
	Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
	Alvarado Gooden Parker
	Anchia Guerra Paul
	Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
	Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
	Arévalo Hefner Phillips
	Ashby Hernandez Pickett
	Bailes Herrero Price
	Bell Hinojosa Raney
	Bernal Holland Raymond
	Biedermann Howard Reynolds
	Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
	Bohac Hunter Roberts
	Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
	Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
	Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
	Burrows Kacal Sanford
	Button Keough Schaefer
	Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
	Canales King of Parker Schubert
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
	Clardy Klick Sheffield
	Coleman Koop Shine
	Collier Krause Simmons
	Cook Kuempel Smithee
	Cortez Lambert Springer
	Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
	Craddick Lang Stickland
	Cyrier Larson Stucky
	Dale Laubenberg Swanson
	Darby Leach Thierry
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
	Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
	Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
	Deshotel Martinez Turner
	Dukes Metcalf Uresti
	Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
	Elkins Miller Villalba
	Faircloth Minjarez Vo
	Fallon Moody Walle
	Farrar Morrison White
	Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
	Frank Murphy Workman
	Frullo Murr Wray
	Geren Neave Wu
	Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
	Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 802 was adopted by the House on March
	16, 2017, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House