Bill Text: TX HR136 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing February 17, 2011, as Aransas County Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-02-18 - Reported enrolled [HR136 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR136-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 136 |
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Aransas County are gathering in | ||
Austin to celebrate Aransas County Day at the State Capitol on | ||
February 17, 2011; and | ||
WHEREAS, This region of coastal prairie, marshlands, and | ||
sandy beaches was first inhabited by native peoples 8,000 years | ||
ago, and early European visitors to the area included the famed | ||
shipwreck survivor Cabeza de Vaca and the explorers Alonso De Leon | ||
and Diego Ortiz Parrilla; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1828, the Mexican government awarded an | ||
empresario grant to James Power and James Hewetson to enable them to | ||
bring in settlers from Ireland and Mexico, and not long after the | ||
Civil War, the towns of Fulton and Rockport were founded as ports | ||
for the cattle business; Aransas County was formed in 1871 and named | ||
after Rio Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, a Spanish palace; and | ||
WHEREAS, Today, the county's ample recreational | ||
opportunities draw visitors from around the state and nation; the | ||
variety of wildlife found in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge | ||
includes the whooping crane, javelina, alligators, and | ||
white-tailed deer, and the Bird Garden and Wetlands Pond in | ||
Rockport and the Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary help preserve a | ||
variety of fascinating flora and fauna; and | ||
WHEREAS, Rockport Harbor is the home port of many popular | ||
boating excursions for birders, dolphin-watchers, and devotees of | ||
deep-sea fishing, while the Fulton Harbor Pier and Copano Bay State | ||
Fishing Pier offer first-rate opportunities for angling; fresh | ||
seafood is available year-round in the area's fine restaurants; and | ||
WHEREAS, The county's history is evoked by the fully restored | ||
19th century mansion at the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, | ||
while the Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport celebrates the marine | ||
heritage of the Lone Star State; the Rockport Center for the Arts is | ||
a hub for the region's thriving cultural scene, which includes such | ||
festive annual events as the Bountiful Bowl Pottery Fair, the | ||
Fulton Oysterfest, the Rockport Film Festival, and many others; and | ||
WHEREAS, Blessed with great natural beauty, a rich history, | ||
and a vibrant creative community, Aransas County is one of the | ||
treasures of the Lone Star State, and its citizens may indeed take | ||
great pride in their heritage as they look forward to a future | ||
filled with opportunity; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize February 17, 2011, as Aransas County | ||
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation | ||
sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin. | ||
Hunter | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 136 was adopted by the House on | ||
February 17, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||