H.R. No. 940 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize the citizens of Wharton County who have come to Austin to celebrate Wharton County Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Wharton County was founded in April of 1846 and named for two Texas heroes, brothers William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton; and WHEREAS, Wharton County is located on the Coastal Plain of southeast Texas on United States Highway 59 southwest of Houston; the county is bounded by Matagorda, Colorado, and Jackson Counties and by the San Bernard River, which forms its northeastern border and marks the county line with Fort Bend County; and WHEREAS, Wharton County has approximately 41,280 residents and encompasses 1,086 square miles of land, which is divided primarily between prairie and timberland; the Colorado River, which traverses the county from northwest to southeast, divides it roughly in half and flows through Wharton and Glen Flora; and WHEREAS, Prospective landowners first came to the plains of the Colorado River in 1822, led by Stephen F. Austin under contract with the Mexican government; the Mexican Imperial Colonization Law of 1823 granted 177 acres to the heads of families for farming and 4,428 acres for raising cattle; and WHEREAS, During the time of the Republic of Texas, the area was divided into three counties, Matagorda, Jackson, and Colorado, and the area consisted of isolated plantation homes and two growing towns, Preston and Egypt; and WHEREAS, After Texas entered the United States in 1845, Wharton County was formed of parts of the three existing counties near the intersection of the mail routes from Matagorda to Columbus and from Houston to Victoria; and WHEREAS, The advent of railroads and irrigation brought increased settlement to the area, which remains a center of agricultural, educational, industrial, and medical services for a large region; and WHEREAS, Wharton County's largest cities and townships are El Campo, Wharton, East Bernard, Boling, and Louise; and WHEREAS, Wharton, the county seat, is known for its small-town way of life and its Czech, Danish, and Mexican heritage; it offers exceptional hunting and outdoor activities, proximity to both Houston and the Gulf Coast, and outstanding festivals; it is also noted for its excellent schools and championship football teams; and WHEREAS, Residents of Wharton County can take pride in their rich history and heritage as they look forward to a promising future; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby welcome citizens of Wharton County to Austin and extend best wishes to them for a productive and enjoyable Wharton County Day at the State Capitol; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for them as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Stephenson 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. 940 was adopted by the House on March 19, 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