SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 140

WHEREAS, Proud residents of Bee County are gathering at the State Capitol to celebrate Bee County Day on February 8, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Artifacts indicate that the Bee County area was originally inhabited by humans 6,000 to 10,000 years ago; the first permanent European settlers arrived in the early 1800s, and later, 11 area landowners were among the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence; and

WHEREAS, On January 25, 1858, the county was officially organized and was named for Barnard E. Bee Sr., an accomplished statesman from South Carolina who later served as secretary of war under Sam Houston; and

WHEREAS, Located in the South Texas Plains vegetation region, Bee County covers 866 square miles that gently slope toward the Gulf of Mexico; with the area's open expanses of grasslands, its economy is dominated by farming and ranching, along with its thriving oil and gas operations and agribusiness; Beeville, the county seat, has revitalized its downtown district and has been recognized as a Texas Main Street City by the Texas Historical Commission, and other towns in the county include Skidmore, Blue Berry Hill, Pettus, Tuleta, Tynan, Pawnee, Normanna, and Mineral; and

WHEREAS, Coastal Bend College-Beeville offers occupational as well as academic classes for its students, and it has the oldest academic educational glassblowing facility in the state; art enthusiasts may delight in the exhibits of the Beeville Art Museum, which is funded by the Joe Barnhart Foundation and housed in the historic Esther Barnhart House; in addition, visitors come from all across Texas to celebrate the state's rich traditions at Western Week, one of the county's largest and longest-running festivals; and

WHEREAS, Bee County is host to many cultural and historical attractions that make it an inviting place to live and an interesting area to visit, and its residents may take great pride in their vibrant heritage and myriad contributions as they look toward a bright and prosperous future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize February 8, 2023, as Bee County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a memorable stay in Austin.

LaMantia

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 8, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate