H.R. No. 698
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Fannin County are gathering at the
Texas State Capitol on March 4, 2009, to celebrate Fannin County
Day, and this occasion provides an opportunity to recognize the
rich history and significant accomplishments of this attractive
part of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, The first nonnative settlements in the area that
would become Fannin County were established in 1836, the year Texas
won its independence from Mexico; when the county was formed the
following year, it took its name from Colonel James Walker Fannin,
Jr., a commander of the Texan revolutionaries who had been killed in
the Goliad Massacre; Bonham, the county seat, was also named for an
independence hero, James Bonham, who died at the Alamo and is now
honored with a statue at the county courthouse; and
WHEREAS, A land of gently rolling hills bounded by the Red
River to the north, Fannin County provides good land for farming and
ranching, and those pursuits have been economic mainstays since the
county was established; today, cattle, corn, wheat, milo, pecans,
and hay are key products, and the many acres of farmland in the
county create a tranquil, pastoral landscape; other businesses such
as communications and manufacturing help to strengthen and
diversify the economy; and
WHEREAS, Bonham, with a population of almost 10,000, is the
county's largest city; it was the hometown of Sam Rayburn, the
legendary Texas politician who was a member of the congress for 48
years and is the longest-serving speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives; his legacy is recalled at the Sam Rayburn Library
and Museum and the Sam Rayburn House Museum; Bonham is also the site
of the Fannin County Museum of History, the Creative Arts Center,
and Fort Inglish Park, a replica of the stockade and log buildings
erected by early settlers; and
WHEREAS, Other well-known county attractions focus on
outdoor recreation; Lake Bonham comprises more than 1,000 acres of
water and is bordered by a golf course and camping facilities;
additional recreational lakes are found at Bonham State Park and
the Caddo National Grasslands preserve, and these public lands also
offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, biking, and other
activities; and
WHEREAS, Fannin County's 33,000 residents can take pride in
their area's rich history, productive businesses, and abundant
recreational activities, and it is an honor to pay tribute to their
many contributions to the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 4, 2009, as Fannin County Day at
the State Capitol and extend best wishes to the visitors from that
notable Texas county for an enjoyable and rewarding visit to
Austin.
Phillips
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 698 was adopted by the House on March
4, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House