| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 577 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Residents of Panola County are gathering in Austin |
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| 6 | 6 | | on February 26, 2009, to celebrate Panola County Day at the State |
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| 7 | 7 | | Capitol; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, These rolling, East Texas timberlands were first |
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| 9 | 9 | | inhabited in historic times by the Caddo and Hasinai; by 1840, 49 |
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| 10 | 10 | | families had emigrated into the area from the American South; |
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| 11 | 11 | | Panola County was established in 1846 and may have been named by |
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| 12 | 12 | | cotton planter John Allison after the Cherokee word for cotton, |
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| 13 | 13 | | ponolo; Carthage was chosen as the county seat in 1848; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, In its early years, the county's economy was based |
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| 15 | 15 | | on farming and livestock; the lumber industry became important |
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| 16 | 16 | | after the Civil War, and today timber, poultry, and beef continue to |
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| 17 | 17 | | be important sources of revenue; the discovery in the 20th century |
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| 18 | 18 | | of a significant petroleum reservoir and one of the largest natural |
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| 19 | 19 | | gas fields in the world has also helped the county prosper and grow; |
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| 20 | 20 | | and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Panola County is the birthplace of Margie Elizabeth |
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| 22 | 22 | | Neal, a leading campaigner for women's suffrage and the first woman |
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| 23 | 23 | | to serve in the Texas Senate; the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame |
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| 24 | 24 | | in Carthage celebrates the leading role of Texans in this uniquely |
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| 25 | 25 | | American art form, with special exhibits devoted to two other |
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| 26 | 26 | | Panola County natives, country music greats Tex Ritter and |
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| 27 | 27 | | "Gentleman" Jim Reeves; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Anglers are drawn to Martin Lake and Lake Murvaul by |
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| 29 | 29 | | the opportunity to catch largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie, |
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| 30 | 30 | | while hikers, birders, and campers enjoy the region's lush forests; |
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| 31 | 31 | | Carthage hosts the annual Piney Woods Quilt Festival, and the |
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| 32 | 32 | | county celebrates its heritage with the yearly East Texas Oil and |
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| 33 | 33 | | Gas Blast, which features live music, free food, a car show, and |
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| 34 | 34 | | arts and crafts; the Texas Tea Room and Heritage Museum chronicles |
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| 35 | 35 | | the county's rich history; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, The citizens of Panola County remain justly proud of |
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| 37 | 37 | | their county's contributions to the Lone Star State, even as they |
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| 38 | 38 | | work to build a still brighter future; now, therefore, be it |
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| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 40 | 40 | | Legislature hereby recognize February 26, 2009, as Panola County |
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| 41 | 41 | | Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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| 42 | 42 | | sincere best wishes for a memorable and enjoyable stay in Austin. |
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| 43 | 43 | | Hopson |
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| 44 | 44 | | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 46 | 46 | | I certify that H.R. No. 577 was adopted by the House on |
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| 47 | 47 | | February 26, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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