82R10048 JGH-D
By: Aliseda H.R. No. 696
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Poteet are coming together on
April 9, 2011, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the
establishment of their community; and
WHEREAS, This area of the South Texas plains was first
settled in the 1880s, when Francis Marion Poteet established a
blacksmith shop and post office near the current site of the town;
by 1892, the community had acquired a cotton gin, a gristmill, and a
wagon maker; and
WHEREAS, In 1896, Henry T. Mumme arrived and opened a general
store, taking over for Mr. Poteet as postmaster; Mr. Mumme found
artesian wells in the area in 1904, and the discovery of a ready
source of water made the region more attractive for farmers; and
WHEREAS, In 1910, Mr. Mumme and his wife, Ida, donated land
for a railway line and land for a townsite near the railroad, three
miles from the original settlement; in 1911, Mr. Mumme moved his
store to that location, and the town of Poteet was born; and
WHEREAS, During that period, Mr. Mumme began to grow
strawberries, which soon became the town's signature crop; other
farmers started to grow peanuts, onions, and watermelons, and the
town became a commercial center for agriculture in the area; and
WHEREAS, Today, Poteet is regarded by many as "The Strawberry
Capital of Texas," producing 40 percent of the state's
strawberries, which are renowned for their superior quality;
ranching and the farming of peanuts, hay, and forage grains also
continue to be important to the town's economy; and
WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike delight in the
Strawberry Festival held each April; one of the largest
agricultural festivals in the state, the celebration features a
strawberry competition, a food show, a parade, fireworks, and
performances by country music and Tejano stars; other popular
attractions include the seven-foot-tall, 1,600 pound concrete
strawberry outside the Poteet Volunteer Fire Department and the
mosaic of Poteet Canyon, a character from the Steve Canyon comic
strip who was named after the town; and
WHEREAS, Celebrating their colorful past as they work to
build a bright future, the citizens of Poteet may indeed take great
pride in their community on this special day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
founding of Poteet and extend to the town's officials, residents,
and guests sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful
celebration.