ENROLLED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 18
BY REPRESENTATIVES ECHOLS, FISHER, AND THOMPSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of its one
hundredth anniversary.
WHEREAS, the Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce's story began in 1921
with the formation of The Business Men's Progressive League; the group formed in response
to the need for a unified community effort to obtain railroad services from Monroe, through
Bastrop, and on to Hamburg, Arkansas; the group advertised four important points in local
newspapers: the advantages of living in Bastrop, the actively-growing Bastrop community,
the livability of Bastrop, and Bastrop's interest in the members of its community; and
WHEREAS, after the completion of the railroad project, The Business Men's
Progressive League disbanded; the group reconvened in 1924 to discuss further development
of railroads, the construction of a bridge across the bayou, and road improvements; the group
accomplished a number of goals from 1924 to 1926 including construction of an underpass
and paving a number of streets in the town; the group's track record of successes inspired the
citizens of Bastrop to form a chamber of commerce so they could continue to take on
developmental projects as a united community; and
WHEREAS, The Business Men's Progressive League became Bastrop Association
of Commerce and Industry after the drafting of a formal charter in 1949; the charter states
that "the purpose and objects for which the Association is organized are the advancement
of the civic, commercial, economic, industrial, and agricultural interests for the town of
Bastrop, the Parish of Morehouse and the surrounding trade area"; the chamber remained
listed as "Bastrop Association of Commerce and Industry" until an amendment of the
Articles of Incorporation in 1983 renamed the group "Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of
Commerce"; and
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WHEREAS, Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce continues its mission to
improve Morehouse Parish, and the chamber is most deserving of recognition for its century
of service to the Bastrop and Morehouse parish communities.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce
on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary and does hereby extend sincere wishes that
the chamber continue to faithfully serve the great people of Morehouse Parish and the town
of Bastrop.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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