81R10674 JH-D
By: Callegari H.R. No. 705
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Katy are gathering in Austin to
celebrate Katy Day at the State Capitol on March 12, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Situated on the coastal prairie among the grasslands
and bayous, the community was originally known as Cane Island; it
was first settled in the 1870s as a farming community, with
residents primarily growing cotton, peanuts, and corn until 1901,
when William Eule introduced rice farming; the town came to be
called Katy, after the depot of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
Railroad (the MKT)--or perhaps after the wife of a saloonkeeper;
and
WHEREAS, The discovery of natural gas in 1934 changed the
fortunes of area residents, who profited from the size of the field
and its close proximity to Houston's refineries; the city was
incorporated in 1945 and today is an important rail and
agricultural center; and
WHEREAS, The Katy Independent School District is one of the
fastest-growing in the state; having completed 23 new campuses in
the past decade, it now includes 31 elementary schools, 12 junior
highs, 6 high schools, a career technology center, and an
alternative high school; the district places a strong emphasis on
technology, providing computers in each classroom and stationary
and wireless labs in every school; student achievement on
standardized tests consistently surpasses statewide levels, and 16
Katy campuses have been designated as exemplary in the
accountability ratings compiled by the Texas Education Agency; and
WHEREAS, Several city attractions provide a window on the
area's past, including the Katy Heritage Museum, the vintage
buildings that make up Heritage Park, and the town's 1898 train
depot that has been restored to house the MKT Museum; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the year, Katy hosts a number of popular
events that draw locals and visitors alike; the Katy Independent
School District FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo is held in February,
the Folk Life Festival takes place in April, and the Rice Harvest
Festival honors the city's agricultural traditions each October;
and
WHEREAS, For more than a century, Katy has been an
outstanding place to live and work, and its citizens may take great
pride in their contributions to the Lone Star State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 12, 2009, as Katy Day at the
State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for
an enjoyable and informative stay in Austin.