Bill Text: TX SR429 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing March 19, 2019, as Port Aransas Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-18 - Reported enrolled [SR429 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SR429-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Port Aransas are gathering in | ||
Austin to celebrate Port Aransas Day at the State Capitol on | ||
March 19, 2019; and | ||
WHEREAS, The site of the town on Mustang Island was first | ||
inhabited by the Karankawa, and in the early 1800s, it was | ||
frequented by the famed buccaneer Jean Lafitte; the natural | ||
passage between the island and Saint Joseph Island was originally | ||
named Aranzazu, and it became known as Aransas Pass; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1855, an English sheep and cattle rancher named | ||
Robert A. Mercer built a cabin on Mustang Island at the site that | ||
later became the town; Elihu Harrison Ropes started a project to | ||
dig a channel across the island in 1890, and the community that | ||
grew around the new post office was called Ropesville; in 1896, | ||
it was renamed Tarpon to highlight the island's fine fishing, and | ||
in 1911, the town was officially designated as Port Aransas; and | ||
WHEREAS, Since World War II, the city has become one of the | ||
most popular resort destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast; the | ||
superb beaches draw campers, swimmers, and surfers from across the | ||
Lone Star State, and the town's launching ramps, lighted piers, and | ||
jetties enable anglers to catch a wide diversity of fish, including | ||
red snapper, shark, sand trout, tuna, and bonito; and | ||
WHEREAS, Port Aransas is also one of the top bird-watching | ||
destinations in the nation, and many preserved venues afford fine | ||
opportunities to view such local species as herons and roseate | ||
spoonbills and to observe the annual migrations of hummingbirds, | ||
flycatchers, and orioles; and | ||
WHEREAS, The rich variety of sea life found along the Gulf | ||
Coast can be appreciated at The University of Texas Marine Science | ||
Institute; visitors also delight in the town's many fine art | ||
galleries, shops, seafood restaurants, and lodging accommodations, | ||
including the historic Tarpon Inn, which displays tarpon scales | ||
signed by such famous visitors as President Franklin Delano | ||
Roosevelt and movie star Hedy Lamarr; and | ||
WHEREAS, Port Aransas was faced with numerous challenges | ||
after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in August of 2017 and caused | ||
widespread and massive damage to homes, businesses, and city | ||
infrastructure; residents have demonstrated admirable resiliency | ||
and perseverance as they have worked steadfastly to rebuild, and | ||
throughout their recovery efforts, they have continued to welcome | ||
visitors and vacationers from across the state to their beloved | ||
hometown; and | ||
WHEREAS, Blessed with natural beauty and a colorful | ||
history, Port Aransas is one of the jewels of the Lone Star State, | ||
and its citizens may indeed take great pride in their heritage | ||
and ongoing achievements; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th | ||
Legislature, hereby recognize March 19, 2019, as Port Aransas Day | ||
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation | ||
sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and informative visit to | ||
Austin. | ||
Kolkhorst | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on March 18, 2019. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |