H.R. No. 503
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Hill County are gathering in
Austin to celebrate Hill County Day at the State Capitol on February
18, 2009; and
WHEREAS, This scenic region of prairie and gently rolling
hills east of the Brazos River was first inhabited 700 years ago; in
the early 1700s hunting camps were established by the Wichita
people, and in the 1820s and 1830s Indians of the Comanche and
Taovaya tribes moved through the area; and
WHEREAS, Hill County was established by the state legislature
on February 7, 1853, and named for Dr. George Washington Hill, the
secretary of war for the Republic of Texas under President Sam
Houston; Hillsboro was founded in 1853 as the county seat; and
WHEREAS, Cattle and cotton were the mainstays of the economy
in the early days, and by the early 1900s the county was the
second-largest cotton-producing county in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Hill County has grown with the changing times while
still maintaining the charm and friendliness of a small rural
county; the county's courthouse, which was nearly destroyed by fire
in 1993, was restored to its 1890s grandeur and continues to
function as the hub for all county business; Hill College provides
for the educational needs of the county's citizens and further
serves the county with its Performing Arts Series; the campus also
houses the Harold B. Simpson History Center, home of the Texas
Heritage Museum with its famous Audie Murphy exhibit and the
Historical Research Center with its 10,000-volume library on the
Civil War; and
WHEREAS, Recreational opportunities for the county's
residents and visitors are provided by Lake Whitney State Park, a
prime destination for camping, hiking, boating, and bird-watching,
with over 194 species of birds spotted so far; additionally, Hill
County native Willie Nelson, born in Abbott, has opened Willie's
Place at Carl's Corner; and
WHEREAS, Each year the communities of Hill County host a
number of gala events such as the Hill County Fair and the Go
Texan/Cotton Pickin' Fair in Hillsboro, Pioneer Days in Whitney,
and the Hubbard Trade Days, all of which showcase the county's
hospitality, agricultural heritage, and scenic beauty; and
WHEREAS, The residents of Hill County are justifiably proud
of their heritage and the many qualities that make their county an
outstanding place in which to live, work, and raise a family, and it
is most fitting that Hill County be honored on this special day;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 18, 2009, as Hill County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to its citizens sincere best wishes
for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.
Pitts
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 503 was adopted by the House on
February 18, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House