86R8000 KSM-D

By: Bell of Kaufman H.R. No. 175

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Proud residents of Athens are gathering in Austin on February 6, 2019, to celebrate Athens Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Athens was first incorporated in 1856, and through the decades, this charming East Texas town has seen significant growth; today, its diverse economic base includes industrial manufacturing and other businesses in addition to farming and livestock ventures; education is a key element in the town's productivity, with Trinity Valley Community College and the area's other schools helping residents to prepare for the future; and

WHEREAS, The county seat of Henderson County, Athens is home to four wineries and a craft brewery, and it has been called the Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World for the years when "cowpeas" were a major crop for the local farming community; Athens was also named the Original Home of the Hamburger by the Texas Legislature in tribute to the role that city resident Fletcher Davis played in the creation of this American favorite; and

WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy such cultural institutions as the East Texas Arboretum, the Henderson County Historical Museum, the Henderson County Performing Arts Center, the Cain Center, the Henderson County Fairpark Complex, and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, where 300,000 gallons of aquarium exhibits feature a wide variety of native Texas fish in natural environments; and

WHEREAS, This lovely city continues to be one of the Lone Star State's great assets and an outstanding place in which to live, work, and raise a family, and its citizens may indeed take pride in their hometown's ongoing achievements; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 6, 2019, as Athens Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin.