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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 20, 2025, 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 |
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Stephen F. Austin's Old 300 settlers, established a homestead |
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nearby, and a community named Bay Town grew up around it; other |
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early settlers included Sam Houston and David G. Burnet, who each |
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served as president of the Republic of Texas, and Mrs. Anson Jones, |
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wife of 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, Today, Baytown is a dynamic community of more than |
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84,000 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 and |
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Recreation Center; other popular destinations in the area include |
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the Baytown Historical Museum and the Baytown 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; and |
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WHEREAS, The city and its residents benefit from the capable |
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leadership of Mayor Charles Johnson and the six members of the city |
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council, Laura Alvarado, Sarah Graham, Ken Griffith, James Franco, |
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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 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 20, 2025, as Baytown Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting |
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delegation. |