82R4743 MGR-D
By: Flynn H.R. No. 132
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On March 1, 2011, proud residents of Hunt County are
visiting Austin on the occasion of Hunt County Day at the State
Capitol, presenting a fitting opportunity to celebrate that vibrant
region of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Located in the Blackland Prairie of northeastern
Texas, Hunt County was first inhabited by the Kiowa Indians; Anglo
settlers arrived in 1839, and the county was officially formed from
parts of Fannin and Nacogdoches Counties in 1846; with Greenville
as its seat, the county was named after Memucan Hunt, secretary of
the navy and minister to Washington under the Republic of Texas; and
WHEREAS, While the county's early economy depended mainly on
cotton, life changed dramatically after the Civil War; the arrival
of the railroad in the mid-1870s was a catalyst for 11 communities
that sprang up around train depots, and by the early 20th century,
Hunt County was home to the first municipally owned public
utilities in Texas and a number of industries centered around the
cotton trade, such as cotton-spinning mills, cotton compresses, and
a cottonseed-oil refinery; and
WHEREAS, Hunt County has continued to grow, and its diverse
economy now includes such industries as aircraft electronics and
plastics distribution, and eight Fortune 500 companies have offices
in Greenville; and
WHEREAS, The county is well served by two institutions of
higher learning, Texas A&M University--Commerce and the Greenville
Center of Paris Junior College, and it is enriched by a number of
recreational and cultural attractions; picturesque Lake Tawakoni
State Park is a destination for boating, swimming, camping, and
hiking, the Mathews Prairie Nature Preserve, a 100-acre tract of
native prairie meadow that has never been plowed, is ideal for
birders and wildflower enthusiasts, and the Audie Murphy/American
Cotton Museum commemorates the importance of cotton to the region
and celebrates the life of Hunt County native Audie Murphy, film
star and the most decorated American soldier of World War II; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Hunt County may take justifiable
pride in their community and know that it has contributed immensely
to the history and vitality of Texas; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2011, as Hunt County Day at
the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable stay in Austin.