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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Washington County are gathering |
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in Austin on February 22, 2011, to celebrate the unique role their |
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county has played in the history and ongoing development of the Lone |
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Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, The French explorer La Salle and his party, who are |
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thought to have passed through in the 1680s, may have been the first |
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European visitors to the area, and in 1821, settlers recruited by |
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Stephen F. Austin began to homestead the region; during the Texas |
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Revolution, the ferry crossing known as Washington-on-the-Brazos |
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became the headquarters of General Sam Houston and the site of the |
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Convention of 1836, where 59 delegates declared Texas independent |
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and drafted a constitution; the town of Washington was the capital |
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of the new republic from 1842 to 1845; and |
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WHEREAS, Washington County was organized in 1837, and Brenham |
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became the county seat in 1844; the county's prospects were |
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improved by the thousands of immigrants from Germany and Poland who |
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arrived during the 1860s and 1870s, and its economy was further |
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spurred by the arrival of the railroad in 1880; in those years, |
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cotton, corn, and poultry were the region's mainstays; and |
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WHEREAS, The area played an important role in the history of |
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higher education in Texas; Baylor University was founded in the |
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county in 1845, and in 1856 Soule University, a precursor to |
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Southwestern University, was founded in Chappell Hill; today, Blinn |
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College in Brenham carries on this proud tradition; and |
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WHEREAS, Washington County's central role in the history of |
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Texas draws visitors from across the state; the Star of the Republic |
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Museum, Independence Hall, and the Barrington Living History Farm |
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at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site vividly evoke |
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the years of the Texas Republic; the Chappell Hill Historic |
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District hosts the "Official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas" each |
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April and is home to a museum and a Masonic cemetery containing |
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descendants of William B. Travis; in addition, the building housing |
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the Brenham Heritage Museum is a venerable landmark that is listed |
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on the National Register of Historic Places; and |
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WHEREAS, Other popular attractions include Lake Somerville, |
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several wineries, more than 40 bed and breakfast establishments, |
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the Antique Rose Emporium, and scenic country roads where |
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wildflowers bloom in profusion; every year, thousands of people |
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take the tour of Blue Bell Creameries, where one of the nation's |
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best-selling brands of ice cream is made; and |
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WHEREAS, Honoring their rich history even as they work to |
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build a bright future, the residents of Washington County have many |
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reasons to be proud of the place they call home; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 22, 2011, as Washington |
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County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting |
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delegation sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable stay |
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in Austin. |
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Kolkhorst |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 429 was adopted by the House on |
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February 22, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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