H.R. No. 684 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Public-spirited citizens of Matagorda County are gathering in Austin to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol on March 5, 2013; and WHEREAS, Taking its name from the Spanish phrase meaning "thick brush," this region of prairie, salt marshes, and coastal waterways was visited by the French explorer La Salle in 1685; the area constituted part of Stephen F. Austin's first colony, and settlers began arriving through Matagorda Bay during the winter of 1821-1822; in 1829, the town of Matagorda was established as a military post, and in 1836, Matagorda County became one of the original 23 counties of the Republic of Texas; and WHEREAS, Matagorda ranked as the second-largest seaport in Texas for a time and served as a shipping point for cotton, sugar, and livestock raised in the county; when the boll weevil endangered the cotton crop in the early 20th century, farmers began to grow rice, and the discovery of oil and sulfur further diversified the county's economy; and WHEREAS, Ranching, farming, and petroleum remain important, and the county also benefits from the presence of the South Texas Project nuclear plant, which generates enough electricity to power approximately two million homes in Texas; Bay City, the county seat, is a center of the petrochemical industry, while the port at Palacios is home to the largest fishing fleet on the Texas Gulf Coast; and WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the county's fine beaches and its many opportunities for fishing and water sports, while birders from across the nation are drawn to the Mad Island Marsh and Wildlife Management Area; Bay City is the location of several major annual attractions--the annual county fair, livestock show, and rodeo, which take place in the early spring, and the Rice Festival, which is held in the fall; in between those dates, Palacios hosts the Texas Fishermen's Seafood Festival, in December, and a reenactment of La Salle's landing, every Fourth of July; and WHEREAS, Matagorda County is an area of abundant natural resources and rich history, and its residents may take great pride in their notable heritage as they look forward to a future filled with promise; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 5, 2013, as Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin. Bonnen of Brazoria Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 684 was adopted by the House on March 5, 2013, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas