Bill Text: TX HR201 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing January 30, 2017, as Palo Pinto County Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-02-01 - Reported enrolled [HR201 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR201-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 201 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Proud residents of Palo Pinto County are gathering | ||
| in Austin on January 30, 2017, to celebrate the first Palo Pinto | ||
| County Day at the State Capitol; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Named for one of its principal streams and situated | ||
| in the Western Cross Timbers Ecoregion, Palo Pinto County covers | ||
| 948 square miles of rugged, hilly land drained by the Brazos River; | ||
| the Texas Legislature formed the county in 1856, and Golconda, the | ||
| county seat, was renamed Palo Pinto two years later; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Early settlers of Palo Pinto County included Charles | ||
| Goodnight and Oliver Loving, of the famed Goodnight-Loving Trail, | ||
| who established cattle ranches in the area; in the late 1800s, the | ||
| county's economy centered on livestock, and a meeting of area | ||
| ranchers in 1876 led to the creation of what is now known as the | ||
| Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; over the years, | ||
| oil and natural gas production helped to diversify the local | ||
| economy, and the county has also developed a robust tourist | ||
| industry with such attractions as Lake Palo Pinto, Possum Kingdom | ||
| Lake, and Lake Mineral Wells State Park; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The community of Palo Pinto is home to the Old Jail, | ||
| built in 1880, which now serves as a museum complex and hosts a | ||
| variety of events, including the annual Frontier Days and Old | ||
| Settlers Reunion; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The largest city in Palo Pinto County is Mineral | ||
| Wells, which was first settled in 1877 by James and Amanda Lynch; | ||
| after digging a well, the couple found that the unusual-tasting | ||
| water seemed beneficial to their health, and in 1885, the Crazy Well | ||
| was dug and the town gained popularity as a center for wellness and | ||
| recreation; today, the city remains a notable attraction for | ||
| retirees and tourists alike, and citizens pay tribute to their | ||
| heritage with the annual Crazy Water Festival; Mineral Wells is | ||
| also the site of the Baker Hotel, which was frequented in its heyday | ||
| by notable Hollywood stars, including Ronald Reagan, Clark Gable, | ||
| Carole Lombard, Judy Garland, Will Rogers, and the Three Stooges; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, The people of Palo Pinto County take great pride in | ||
| their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter | ||
| future, and it is indeed a privilege to honor them and their unique | ||
| region of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2017, as Palo Pinto County | ||
| Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation | ||
| sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in | ||
| Austin. | ||
| Lang | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 201 was adopted by the House on | ||
| January 30, 2017, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
