Bill Text: TX SR384 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing the Mount Tabor Indian Community for its contributions to this state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-17 - Reported enrolled [SR384 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SR384-Enrolled.html
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| WHEREAS, The people of the Mount Tabor Indian Community of | ||
| East Texas, whose history in this state spans 170 years, take | ||
| enormous pride in the rich heritage that they share; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Composed of individuals of Cherokee, Yowani | ||
| Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muscogee-Creek ancestry, the Mount Tabor | ||
| community traces its origins to about the year 1845, when a party | ||
| of families led by John Adair Bell immigrated to Texas and | ||
| settled approximately six miles south of present-day Kilgore; | ||
| the community came to be known as Mount Tabor after the name of | ||
| the plantation that Mr. Bell established in Rusk County; during | ||
| the Civil War, the Mount Tabor community swelled with an influx | ||
| of Cherokee who were supportive of the Confederacy and who were | ||
| fleeing the fighting in Indian Territory; among their number were | ||
| the wife and children of Confederate general Stand Watie; | ||
| following the end of the war, residents of Mount Tabor began to | ||
| disperse; a number returned to the Cherokee Nation in Indian | ||
| Territory, but many descendants of the early settlers continue to | ||
| live in Rusk and Smith Counties; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Those associated with Mount Tabor have maintained | ||
| ties to a tribal organization since the community's inception; | ||
| today, the Texas Band of Cherokee Indians of the Mount Tabor | ||
| Indian Community is a continuation of the Texas Cherokees and | ||
| Associated Bands, which was organized in 1871 by Colonel William | ||
| Penn Adair; in addition to John Adair Bell and William Penn | ||
| Adair, notable leaders of the community have included Chief | ||
| Chicken Trotter, also known as Devereaux Jarrett Bell, who signed | ||
| the 1843 Treaty of Birds Fort on behalf of the Cherokee, and, in | ||
| the 20th century, chairs of the Texas Cherokees and Associated | ||
| Bands W. W. Keeler, who served as principal chief of the Cherokee | ||
| Nation and as chief executive officer of Phillips Petroleum | ||
| Company, and Foster T. Bean, who served as mayor of Kilgore for | ||
| more than 20 years; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The original settlers of Mount Tabor and their | ||
| descendants have contributed in myriad ways to their communities, | ||
| their state, and their nation; they have worn the uniform of every | ||
| branch of this country's armed forces and taken part in every | ||
| conflict from the Civil War to Iraq and Afghanistan; in civilian | ||
| life, they have served in roles ranging from police officers and | ||
| judges to ministers and school teachers; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Throughout its history, Texas has drawn strength | ||
| from the great diversity of its people and cultures, and it is a | ||
| privilege to recognize the Mount Tabor Indian Community for the | ||
| indelible imprint it has made on the Lone Star State; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th | ||
| Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the Mount Tabor Indian | ||
| Community for its many contributions to the development of this | ||
| state and extend to its members sincere best wishes for the | ||
| future; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
| the Mount Tabor Indian Community as an expression of high regard | ||
| from the Texas Senate. | ||
| Eltife | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on March 17, 2015. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
