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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Baytown are gathering in Austin |
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on February 15, 2023, to take part in Baytown Day at the State |
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Capitol and to celebrate the vibrant community they call home; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1822, Nathaniel Lynch started a ferry service at |
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the confluence of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou near the |
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Gulf of Mexico; two years later, William Scott, one of Stephen |
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F. Austin's Old 300 settlers, established a homestead nearby, and a |
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community named Bay Town grew up around it; other early settlers |
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included Sam Houston and David G. Burnet, who each served as |
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president of the Republic of Texas, and Mrs. Anson Jones, wife of |
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the fourth and final Texas president; and |
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WHEREAS, The area remained mostly rural until 1908, when oil |
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was discovered near Tabbs Bay, and in 1916, the first offshore |
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drilling site in Texas was established near Goose Creek; starting |
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in 1917, two towns, Pelly and Goose Creek, grew up around the oil |
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fields, and that same year, Ross S. Sterling founded the Humble Oil |
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and Refining Company, now known as ExxonMobil; in 1923, Humble Oil |
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began laying out streets, installing utilities, and financing homes |
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for its employees; in 1947, Pelly and Goose Creek consolidated, and |
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on January 24, 1948, the city of Baytown was established, with a |
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population of nearly 21,000 people; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2023, Baytown is celebrating the 75th anniversary |
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of its incorporation with a series of public events; residents are |
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invited to join in commemorating this milestone year by |
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participating in 75 activities hosted throughout the city; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Baytown is a dynamic community of more than |
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82,000 residents; its educational institutions include the Goose |
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Creek Consolidated Independent School District and Lee College, and |
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it boasts a downtown arts district that features the Baytown Little |
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Theater, the Lee College Performing Arts Center, the Art Gallery of |
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Baytown, and the Baytown Public Art Program; visitors are drawn by |
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the opportunities for fishing, boating, and kayaking, and wildlife |
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and birding enthusiasts enjoy the opportunities offered by the |
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Baytown Nature Center and the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education |
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Center; other popular destinations in the area include Houston |
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Raceway Park, the Baytown Historical Museum, and the Baytown |
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Sculpture Trail; and |
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WHEREAS, Among Baytown's notable natives are such figures as |
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Pastor John Hagee, actor Gary Busey, former Houston mayor Bob |
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Lanier, rock and roll musician Bobby Fuller, professional football |
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player Howard Sampson, tennis great Sherwood Stewart, and singer |
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and The Voice contestant RaeLynn Woodward; and |
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WHEREAS, The city and its residents benefit from the capable |
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leadership of Mayor Brandon Capetillo and the six members of the |
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city council, Laura Alvarado, Sarah Graham, Ken Griffith, Heather |
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Betancourth, Jacob Powell, and Mike Lester; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich and colorful history as they |
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work together to build an even brighter tomorrow, the citizens of |
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Baytown may take justifiable pride in the important role their |
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community continues to play in the story of the Lone Star State; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 15, 2023, as Baytown Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting |
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delegation. |