H.R. No. 1611
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Upshur County are gathering in
Austin on April 28, 2009, for Upshur County Day at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, This wooded, rolling region of East Texas was first
inhabited by the Caddo people; during the early 19th century the
Cherokee passed through the area on the Cherokee Trace, and the
first Anglo inhabitant, Isaac Moody, settled near West Mountain in
1836; and
WHEREAS, The 1st Texas Legislature established Upshur County
on April 27, 1846; the county was named after Abel P. Upshur,
secretary of state under President John Tyler, and Gilmer was
established as the county seat in 1848; and
WHEREAS, Corn, cotton, and cattle were the foundations of the
county's economy, while the region's virgin forest made it an
important center for the lumber industry; the arrival of the
railroad in the 1870s linked the area to national markets and drew
in more residents; and
WHEREAS, Today the county is a leading producer of broiler
chickens and dairy products; the reseeding of the forests between
the end of World War II and the 1980s has helped to maintain the
county's primacy as a lumber producer, and ceramics and vegetable
processing have also become important industries; and
WHEREAS, Gilmer is the site of the East Texas Yamboree, one of
the oldest continuing festivals in East Texas; first held in 1935,
this celebration of the sweet potato draws 100,000 visitors every
October with a parade, cooking contests, live music, livestock
exhibits, and an antique and classic car show; and
WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the fine
recreational opportunities offered by the county; Lake Gladewater
is popular with boaters, fishermen, swimmers, and picnickers, and
the county's wide variety of game make it a destination for hunters;
and
WHEREAS, With its scenic beauty, abundant natural resources,
and lively cultural traditions, Upshur County celebrates its rich
history while looking forward to a bright future, and it is
appropriate to celebrate the past, present, and future of this
unique region of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 28, 2009, as Upshur County Day
at the State Capitol and extend best wishes to the visiting
delegation for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.
Hughes
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1611 was adopted by the House on April
28, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House