SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 533

WHEREAS, Proud residents of Lampasas are celebrating their city's sesquicentennial in 2023; and

WHEREAS, In 1760, a mission and presidio were built just west of the site of modern-day Lampasas at a time when the area was under Spanish rule; during the Revolutionary War, Lampasas would figure into a pivotal chapter of American history when Isaac Cox, a Pennsylvanian and Spanish army veteran, and seven of his nephews delivered over 700 horses from the area to Major General Charles Lee, a high-ranking officer in the Continental Army under General George Washington; Lampasas County would go on to supply horses for the U.S. military's use in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II as well; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1850s, Moses Hughes and his family were among the first Anglo settlers to arrive in the area; Mr. Hughes and his ailing wife, Hannah, came in search of mineral springs due to their rumored healing properties; news of Mrs. Hughes's reported cure drew others to the community, and the town's growth in population led the Texas Legislature to declare Lampasas, formerly called Burleson, as the seat of the newly created Lampasas County on February 1, 1856; and

WHEREAS, The City of Lampasas was officially incorporated by the 12th Texas Legislature on April 13, 1873; several years later, a group of farmers gathered to discuss the economic issues that were impacting their livelihoods, which provided the impetus for the creation of the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, also known as the Farmers' Alliance; the organization would become a powerful nationwide political movement that, at its height, had a membership of nearly three million; and

WHEREAS, Beginning in 1882, the arrival of the railroad brought visitors from all over the country to the mineral baths and grand hotels of Lampasas, which acquired the moniker "the Saratoga of the South"; Lampasas was the birthplace of the Texas Bankers Association, the oldest state banking association in the nation; organized in 1885 by two local bankers, Frank Malone and E. M. Longcope, the group had its first meeting at the luxurious 200-room Lampasas Park Hotel; the rapidly growing town was also selected as the location for the 1892 Texas Democratic Convention, which took place at the Hannah Springs Auditorium; and

WHEREAS, Lampasas has been home to a number of famous figures, including Olympic gold medalist and professional football player Johnny "Lam" Jones, Keith Null of the St. Louis Rams, and 1970 Super Bowl veteran Jim Hargrove of the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals; the list of notable Lampasas natives also includes Stanley Walker, author, journalist, and editor of the New York Herald Tribune during the 1920s and 1930s, whose 1956 book Home to Texas describes his return to the city after 40 years in New York; among other Lampasas icons are Grammy Award-winning fiddle player Jason Roberts and country music artists Dale and Terry McBride and Donnie Price, as well as prominent individuals such as Joy Mahana Bishop, the first woman appointed to the Senior Executive Service, and William Thomas Campbell, cofounder and treasurer of Texaco Oil; and

WHEREAS, Today, Lampasas boasts an array of historic buildings that showcase the community's past, including the Old Huling Mansion, the Moses Hughes Home, the Keystone Star Hotel, the Major Martin White House, and the Adelphia; residents and visitors enjoy such amenities as the town's four local wineries, as well as popular eateries like Eve's Café, one of the top customer-rated German restaurants in the U.S., and Storm's Drive-In, a favorite of Elvis Presley when the legendary rock and roll singer was stationed at Fort Hood; area citizens keep up with local news and events by reading the Lampasas Dispatch Record newspaper, which dates back to 1906, and flock to annual gatherings such as the week-long Spring Ho Festival in July and the Riata Roundup Rodeo in April; and

WHEREAS, Celebrating their unique history as they work to build an even brighter future, the citizens of Lampasas are justifiably proud of their community, and it is indeed fitting to honor the contributions they have made to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lampasas and extend to its residents sincere best wishes for the future.

Flores

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 9, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate