|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 211
|
|
WHEREAS, On February 16, 2017, members of the Nacogdoches |
|
County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Nacogdoches, and Stephen |
|
F. Austin State University and its Student Government and Alumni |
|
Associations are visiting Austin to celebrate Nacogdoches-SFA |
|
Day at the State Capitol; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Nacogdoches is the site of a Caddo Native American |
|
settlement and a Spanish mission established in 1716; founded by |
|
Antonio Gil Y'Barbo, it received designation from Spain as a |
|
pueblo in 1779, and today it proudly calls itself the first town |
|
in Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The city became an important gateway for trade |
|
with the French, and it claims among its lengthy list of Texas |
|
milestones being home to the first English-language newspaper, |
|
oil well, and two-story building, as well as the state's |
|
inaugural district court session; the nine flags flown over the |
|
city include those of three short-lived early republics; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Today, the vintage charm of Nacogdoches brings |
|
many tourists who explore such attractions as the Old Stone Fort, |
|
the Victorian homes along Mound Street, the 19th-century |
|
buildings of Millard's Crossing, and the quaint antique shops and |
|
restaurants along the brick downtown streets; many also come to |
|
enjoy the state-sanctioned Texas Blueberry Festival, which |
|
celebrates the importance of the Texas blueberry industry, and to |
|
participate in recreational activities at Lake Nacogdoches, Lake |
|
Naconiche, and Sam Rayburn Reservoir, all known for their bass |
|
fishing; in addition to tourism, the primary industries of the |
|
area include agricultural services, manufacturing, and oil and |
|
gas, and the construction and completion of the Interstate 69 |
|
system is critical to continuing development in Nacogdoches |
|
County; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Education has been an important part of the area's |
|
economy since Stephen F. Austin State University opened its doors |
|
to 158 students on September 18, 1923; its alumni association was |
|
organized just five years later and has worked diligently through |
|
the years to support the school, which now has an enrollment of |
|
approximately 13,000 students; the university boasts an |
|
exceptionally scenic campus recognized for the SFA Gardens and |
|
also operates a beef and poultry farm, a dairy farm, an |
|
experimental forest, a forestry field station, and the Waters of |
|
East Texas Center; its observatory is the second largest, not |
|
only in Texas but also in the Central Time Zone, and on November |
|
7, 2016, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Ed and Gwen |
|
Cole STEM Building, which will provide new educational |
|
opportunities for all Texans; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Beautifully situated in the Texas Forest Country, |
|
Nacogdoches is attracting active retired Texans; it was one of |
|
the first three communities in Texas recognized as a Go Texan |
|
certified retirement community because of its cultural and |
|
sporting events, health care, safety, and continuing education |
|
opportunities; additionally, the city has been designated the |
|
official Garden Capital of Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The combination of numerous amenities and a |
|
neighborly atmosphere makes Nacogdoches a splendid place to |
|
live, work, and study, and it is a pleasure to welcome those |
|
representing the many facets of this vibrant part of the Lone |
|
Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
|
Legislature, hereby recognize February 16, 2017, as |
|
Nacogdoches-SFA Day at the State Capitol and extend to the |
|
visiting delegation best wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin. |
|
|
Nichols |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
the Senate on February 15, 2017. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |