H.R. No. 356
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Bee County are gathering at
the State Capitol to celebrate Bee County Day on February 11, 2009;
and
WHEREAS, Officially organized on January 25, 1858, Bee County
was named for Barnard E. Bee, Sr., a South Carolina attorney,
soldier, and statesman who joined the Army of the Republic of Texas
and served as secretary of war under Sam Houston; recovered
artifacts indicate that the area was originally inhabited 6,000 to
10,000 years ago; the first permanent European settlers arrived in
the early 19th century, and 11 Bee County landowners were among the
signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, Located in the South Texas Plains vegetation region,
Bee County covers 866 square miles that slope gently toward the Gulf
Coast; with the region's open expanses of grasslands, the local
economy is dominated by farming and ranching but also welcomes oil
and gas extraction and agribusiness; in 1954, the first U.S. Navy
all-jet base opened at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Beeville,
the county seat, and still contributes a significant amount to the
region's economy; other towns in the county include Skidmore, Blue
Berry Hill, Pettus, Tuleta, Tynan, Pawnee, Normanna, and Mineral;
and
WHEREAS, The residents of this fine Texas county have played
an important part in preserving their region's past and preparing
for a productive future, and it is a pleasure to pay tribute to Bee
County and its citizens on this special day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 11, 2009, as Bee County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to those visiting today sincere best
wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin.
Gonzalez Toureilles
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 356 was adopted by the House on
February 11, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House