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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 429
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Port Aransas are gathering in |
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Austin to celebrate Port Aransas Day at the State Capitol on |
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March 19, 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, The site of the town on Mustang Island was first |
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inhabited by the Karankawa, and in the early 1800s, it was |
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frequented by the famed buccaneer Jean Lafitte; the natural |
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passage between the island and Saint Joseph Island was originally |
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named Aranzazu, and it became known as Aransas Pass; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1855, an English sheep and cattle rancher named |
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Robert A. Mercer built a cabin on Mustang Island at the site that |
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later became the town; Elihu Harrison Ropes started a project to |
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dig a channel across the island in 1890, and the community that |
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grew around the new post office was called Ropesville; in 1896, |
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it was renamed Tarpon to highlight the island's fine fishing, and |
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in 1911, the town was officially designated as Port Aransas; and |
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WHEREAS, Since World War II, the city has become one of the |
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most popular resort destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast; the |
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superb beaches draw campers, swimmers, and surfers from across the |
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Lone Star State, and the town's launching ramps, lighted piers, and |
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jetties enable anglers to catch a wide diversity of fish, including |
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red snapper, shark, sand trout, tuna, and bonito; and |
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WHEREAS, Port Aransas is also one of the top bird-watching |
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destinations in the nation, and many preserved venues afford fine |
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opportunities to view such local species as herons and roseate |
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spoonbills and to observe the annual migrations of hummingbirds, |
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flycatchers, and orioles; and |
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WHEREAS, The rich variety of sea life found along the Gulf |
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Coast can be appreciated at The University of Texas Marine Science |
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Institute; visitors also delight in the town's many fine art |
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galleries, shops, seafood restaurants, and lodging accommodations, |
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including the historic Tarpon Inn, which displays tarpon scales |
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signed by such famous visitors as President Franklin Delano |
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Roosevelt and movie star Hedy Lamarr; and |
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WHEREAS, Port Aransas was faced with numerous challenges |
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after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in August of 2017 and caused |
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widespread and massive damage to homes, businesses, and city |
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infrastructure; residents have demonstrated admirable resiliency |
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and perseverance as they have worked steadfastly to rebuild, and |
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throughout their recovery efforts, they have continued to welcome |
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visitors and vacationers from across the state to their beloved |
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hometown; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with natural beauty and a colorful |
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history, Port Aransas is one of the jewels of the Lone Star State, |
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and its citizens may indeed take great pride in their heritage |
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and ongoing achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize March 19, 2019, as Port Aransas Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and informative visit to |
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Austin. |
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Kolkhorst |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 18, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |