| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Residents of Panola County are gathering in Austin |
|
|
on April 12, 2023, to celebrate Panola County Day at the State |
|
|
Capitol; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Located in northeastern Texas and forming part of |
|
|
the state's border with Louisiana, Panola County covers more than |
|
|
800 square miles of forests and rolling plains and is traversed by |
|
|
the Sabine River; the Texas Legislature officially created Panola |
|
|
County on March 30, 1846, and two years later, voters chose Carthage |
|
|
as the county seat; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, It is believed that Judge John Allison, a prominent |
|
|
civic leader, suggested the name Panola, which may be derived from |
|
|
the Cherokee word for cotton, ponolo; the area's rich soil was well |
|
|
suited to the crop, and cotton became the county's main |
|
|
agricultural product; today, Panola County enjoys a diversified |
|
|
economy, primarily based in oil and gas production, agriculture, |
|
|
food processing, and timber; the lush forests also make the county a |
|
|
popular destination for hiking, birding, and camping enthusiasts, |
|
|
while anglers enjoy the good fishing waters of Martin Creek Lake and |
|
|
Lake Murvaul; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Panola County's rich heritage is recognized by |
|
|
nearly 60 Texas Historical Commission markers; the county was the |
|
|
birthplace of several notable Texans, including Margie Elizabeth |
|
|
Neal, the first woman elected to serve in the Texas Senate, and |
|
|
country music stars Tex Ritter and Jim Reeves; a museum dedicated to |
|
|
Mr. Ritter and a memorial devoted to Mr. Reeves are located in |
|
|
Carthage, as is the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, which honors |
|
|
the legacies of both of these men, along with other country music |
|
|
legends from the state; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Named a National Main Street City in Texas, Carthage |
|
|
is also home to Panola College and the historic Esquire Theater, |
|
|
which hosts the Country Music Hayride live music show; other |
|
|
popular events taking place in the county seat include the Piney |
|
|
Woods Quilt Festival in April, the annual Classic Country Music |
|
|
Festival Weekend in August, and Potlatch, an art, food, and music |
|
|
festival that takes place in the fall; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The citizens of Panola County take great pride in |
|
|
their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter |
|
|
future, and it is indeed fitting to honor them for their unique |
|
|
contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize April 12, 2023, as Panola County Day |
|
|
at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting |
|
|
delegation. |