| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 603 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, Residents of Rusk County are gathering in Austin |
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| 3 | 3 | | on April 21, 2009, to celebrate Rusk County Day at the State |
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| 4 | 4 | | Capitol; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Four Spanish expeditions traveled through this |
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| 6 | 6 | | scenic region between 1691 and 1788, and Anglo settlers began to |
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| 7 | 7 | | arrive in large numbers after the Texas Revolution; in 1843, Rusk |
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| 8 | 8 | | County was formed, named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk, who had been |
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| 9 | 9 | | secretary of war in the Republic of Texas, and the new county seat |
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| 10 | 10 | | was named after James Pinckney Henderson, who soon became the |
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| 11 | 11 | | first governor of the State of Texas; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, For over 90 years, Rusk County's economy depended |
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| 13 | 13 | | mainly on the growing of cotton, but in 1930, Columbus M. "Dad" |
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| 14 | 14 | | Joiner struck oil with the Daisy Bradford No. 1 well, initiating |
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| 15 | 15 | | one of the richest oil booms in American history; in three years, |
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| 16 | 16 | | the amount of oil pumped out of Rusk County grew from 27,000 |
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| 17 | 17 | | barrels in 1931 to over 200 million barrels in 1933, and |
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| 18 | 18 | | wildcatters and speculators poured into the county, turning |
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| 19 | 19 | | Henderson into a lively boomtown; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Today, oil and agriculture continue to be |
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| 21 | 21 | | important to the region's prosperity, along with lignite coal and |
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| 22 | 22 | | natural gas; the county is also an important center for the |
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| 23 | 23 | | lumber industry, and the area's distinctive clays are used to |
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| 24 | 24 | | manufacture some of the best bricks in Texas; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, The colorful days of the 1930s oil boom are |
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| 26 | 26 | | recreated at the Gaston Museum in Joinerville, which is only two |
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| 27 | 27 | | miles from "Dad" Joiner's East Texas Discovery Well, and the |
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| 28 | 28 | | Depot Museum and Children's Discovery Center in Henderson |
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| 29 | 29 | | features a handsomely restored Missouri Pacific Railroad depot |
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| 30 | 30 | | and several other restored historic buildings from the 1800s; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Martin Creek Lake State Park offers ample |
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| 32 | 32 | | opportunities for recreation in the area, and the annual Heritage |
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| 33 | 33 | | Syrup Festival in November and the Wildflower Driving Trails |
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| 34 | 34 | | every spring delight residents and visitors alike; and |
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| 35 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Picturesque and historic, Rusk County is home to |
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| 36 | 36 | | industrious and innovative citizens who can take great pride in |
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| 37 | 37 | | their heritage even as they look forward to a bright future; now, |
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| 38 | 38 | | therefore, be it |
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| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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| 40 | 40 | | Legislature, hereby recognize April 21, 2009, as Rusk County Day |
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| 41 | 41 | | at the State Capitol and extend to the county's visiting |
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| 42 | 42 | | delegation best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in |
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| 43 | 43 | | Austin. |
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| 44 | 44 | | Eltife |
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| 45 | 45 | | ________________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | President of the Senate |
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| 47 | 47 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 48 | 48 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 49 | 49 | | the Senate on April 22, 2009. |
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| 50 | 50 | | ________________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 52 | 52 | | ________________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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