H.C.R. No. 189
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Residents of Lamar County are gathering at the State
Capitol on April 23, 2009, to celebrate Lamar County Day, and this
occasion provides a welcome opportunity to honor this notable part
of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Lamar County was established by act of the Fifth
Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 17, 1840, and named
for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the fourth president of the republic; the
towns of Lafayette and Mount Vernon each served as county seat
before early settler George Wright negotiated with county
commissioners to have the settlement of Pinhook made the center of
government operations; the community was subsequently named Paris
after Paris, France, and the first term of the county court was held
there in 1844; other notable area residents in the mid-1800s
included Samuel Bell Maxey, a Confederate general and United States
senator, and John Chisum, one of the foremost cattle barons in the
southwestern United States; and
WHEREAS, Bordered on the north by the Red River and on the
south by the North Sulphur River, Lamar County was once a major
farming region; although its economy became less dependent on
agriculture after the Great Depression, many residents continue to
earn a living through the production of hay, wheat, and soybeans and
the raising of beef and dairy cattle; moreover, a range of prominent
businesses are located in Paris, including Campbell's Soup Company,
Sara Lee Bakery Group, Flex-O-Lite, Kimberly-Clark Corporation,
Philips Lighting, and Merico; the town is also home to Paris Junior
College, which has been providing educational opportunities to the
region since 1924; and
WHEREAS, Historical and cultural attractions abound in
Paris, which is the Official Crape Myrtle City of the State of
Texas; among the many things to see and do are the Hayden Museum of
American Art, which houses a permanent collection of graphic art,
archival photography, and American chairs, the Sam Bell Maxey House
State Historic Site, and the Paris Union Station Railroad Depot;
well-known city landmarks include the Culbertson Fountain, on the
plaza in the downtown historic district, and the city's replica of
the Eiffel Tower, which stands 65 feet tall and is topped with a red
cowboy hat; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic county is one of the Lone Star State's
great treasures, and it is a pleasure to honor the residents of
Lamar County as they look forward to a bright and promising future;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate April 23, 2009, as Lamar County Day at the State
Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for an
enjoyable stay in Austin.
Homer
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 189 was adopted by the House on
April 23, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 189 was adopted by the Senate on May
18, 2009, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor