SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 224
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 United States
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 Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
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.
Deuell
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 4, 2009.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate