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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, For more than 70 years, Rockwall County has been a |
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sought-after destination for brides- and grooms-to-be, and its |
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popularity as a marriage location is known throughout the Lone Star |
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State; and |
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WHEREAS, During the 1940s and 1950s, couples flocked to |
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Rockwall County to tie the knot because of the unique approach that |
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the county took to administrating marriages in that era; a night |
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watchman at the courthouse, Gene Payne, filled in as the deputy |
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county clerk, which allowed marriage licenses to be issued at all |
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hours; in addition, a local doctor kept his office open late to |
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provide the blood tests that were required before a license could be |
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issued; the popularity of Rockwall County as a place to say "I do" |
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was such that justice of the peace Mildred Barnes, one of only a few |
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women in the state to serve in that role at the time, officiated the |
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weddings of more than 6,000 couples from 1952 to 1957; and |
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WHEREAS, The practice of issuing marriage licenses around the |
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clock ended in the 1950s, when the county was required by law to |
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provide this service during regular business hours; nevertheless, |
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the county has remained a top choice for prospective newlyweds |
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drawn by the uncommon beauty and elegance of its marriage |
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certificates, which have long been among the most coveted in the |
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state; the county is further admired for its wide selection of |
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wedding venues that suit a variety of tastes and styles, ranging |
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from luxurious manors to scenic gardens and pastoral ranch venues; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Rockwall County has long served as the setting where |
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couples have shared their vows and embarked upon a momentous |
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journey together, and it is indeed fitting that the county be |
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formally recognized for its special connection to the institution |
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of marriage, both historically and in the present day; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate Rockwall County as the official Marriage Capital |
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of Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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Section 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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finally passed by the legislature. |