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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Proud residents of Port Aransas are gathering in |
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| 6 | 7 | | Austin to celebrate Port Aransas Day at the State Capitol on March |
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| 7 | 8 | | 24, 2015; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The town's location on Mustang Island was first |
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| 9 | 10 | | inhabited by the Karankawa Indians, and in the early 1800s, it was |
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| 10 | 11 | | frequented by the famed buccaneer Jean Lafitte; the natural passage |
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| 11 | 12 | | between the island and St. Joseph Island was originally named |
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| 12 | 13 | | Aranzazu, and it became known as Aransas Pass; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, In 1855, an English sheep and cattle rancher named |
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| 14 | 15 | | Robert A. Mercer built a cabin on Mustang Island at the site that |
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| 15 | 16 | | later became the town; Elihu Harrison Ropes started a project to dig |
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| 16 | 17 | | a channel across the island in 1890, and the community that grew |
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| 17 | 18 | | around the new post office was called Ropesville; in 1896, it was |
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| 18 | 19 | | renamed Tarpon to highlight the island's fine fishing, and in 1911, |
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| 19 | 20 | | the town was officially designated as Port Aransas; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Since World War II, the city has become one of the |
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| 21 | 22 | | most popular resort destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast; the |
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| 22 | 23 | | superb beaches draw campers, swimmers, and surfers from across the |
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| 23 | 24 | | Lone Star State, and the town's launching ramps, lighted piers, and |
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| 24 | 25 | | jetties enable anglers to catch a wide diversity of fish, including |
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| 25 | 26 | | red snapper, shark, sand trout, tuna, and bonito; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Port Aransas is also one of the top bird-watching |
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| 27 | 28 | | destinations in the nation, and many preserved venues afford fine |
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| 28 | 29 | | opportunities to view local species such as herons and roseate |
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| 29 | 30 | | spoonbills as well as the annual migrations of hummingbirds, |
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| 30 | 31 | | flycatchers, and orioles; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, The rich variety of sea life found along the Gulf |
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| 32 | 33 | | Coast can be appreciated at The University of Texas Marine Science |
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| 33 | 34 | | Institute; visitors also delight in the town's many fine art |
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| 34 | 35 | | galleries, shops, seafood restaurants, and lodging accommodations, |
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| 35 | 36 | | including the historic Tarpon Inn, which displays tarpon scales |
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| 36 | 37 | | signed by such famous visitors as President Franklin Delano |
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| 37 | 38 | | Roosevelt and movie star Hedy Lamarr; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Blessed with natural beauty and a colorful history, |
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| 39 | 40 | | Port Aransas is one of the jewels of the Lone Star State, and its |
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| 40 | 41 | | citizens may indeed take great pride in their heritage and ongoing |
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| 41 | 42 | | achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 43 | 44 | | Legislature hereby recognize March 24, 2015, as Port Aransas Day at |
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| 44 | 45 | | the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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| 45 | 46 | | best wishes for an enjoyable and informative visit to Austin. |
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