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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Preparations are underway across the country for the |
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centennial of Route 66; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1926, the Bureau of Public Roads established the |
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nation's first federal highway system; like other highways in the |
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system, Route 66 was composed of existing local, state, and |
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national roads; it quickly gained popularity through the efforts of |
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the U.S. 66 Highway Association, which advertised it as the most |
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scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles; and |
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WHEREAS, Stretching 2,400 miles across two-thirds of the |
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continent, Route 66 spanned some 200 miles in Texas, with the |
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highway's geographical midpoint located in Adrian; the highway |
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became a catalyst for growth as entrepreneurs in towns along its |
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length established small businesses to serve travelers; commerce |
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increased when the Great Depression impelled many Americans to move |
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in search of better lives; although tourism declined significantly |
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during World War II, the highway's function as a military transport |
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corridor benefited motels, gas stations, and restaurants; |
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moreover, job seekers headed out on the road to join the defense |
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plant workforce on the West Coast; and |
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WHEREAS, Route 66 boomed in the post-war years as rationing |
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and travel restrictions vanished and car ownership expanded; the |
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freedom of the highway was lauded by Bobby Troup's big hit, "Route |
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66," and a television series of the same name raised its profile |
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further; during the Eisenhower administration, however, the advent |
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of the interstate system led to incremental replacement of U.S. 66 |
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over the next three decades; in 1984, I-40 bypassed the last section |
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of the road, and the following year brought the official |
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decommissioning of Route 66; nevertheless, many Americans |
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understood the significance of the highway and organized groups to |
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encourage travel and preservation, and more than 150 miles of the |
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original route in Texas can still be driven today; since 1990, the |
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Old Route 66 Association of Texas has promoted tourism and |
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supported the restoration of signage and landmarks in collaboration |
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with local communities, tourism boards, business owners, and |
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museums; the Texas Legislature designated the state's segment as a |
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historic corridor, and in 2020, Congress established the Route 66 |
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Centennial Commission in anticipation of celebrations; and |
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WHEREAS, A fabled roadway that shaped communities and |
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captured the national imagination, Route 66 continues to be a vital |
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economic and cultural artery as it approaches a momentous milestone |
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in its history; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the centennial of Route 66 and |
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extend sincere best wishes to all those involved in preservation |
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efforts and celebrations; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Old Route 66 Association of Texas as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |