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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Proud residents of Athens are gathering in Austin on |
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| 6 | 6 | | February 18, 2015, to celebrate Athens Day at the State Capitol; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, Athens was first incorporated in 1856, but steady |
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| 8 | 8 | | development began after it was reincorporated in 1901; agriculture |
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| 9 | 9 | | has long been an important element in the town's economy, and the |
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| 10 | 10 | | prominence of the black-eyed pea crop between the 1930s and 1970s |
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| 11 | 11 | | resulted in the town garnering the unofficial title of "Black-Eyed |
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| 12 | 12 | | Pea Capital of the World"; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Through the decades, this charming East Texas town |
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| 14 | 14 | | has seen significant growth, and today its diverse economic base |
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| 15 | 15 | | includes industrial manufacturing and other businesses in addition |
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| 16 | 16 | | to farming and livestock ventures; education is a key element in the |
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| 17 | 17 | | town's productivity, with Trinity Valley Community College and the |
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| 18 | 18 | | area's other schools helping residents to prepare for the future; |
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| 19 | 19 | | and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Athens has been proclaimed the Original Home of the |
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| 21 | 21 | | Hamburger by the Texas Legislature in tribute to the role that city |
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| 22 | 22 | | resident Fletcher Davis played in the creation of this American |
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| 23 | 23 | | favorite; the town features many exciting annual events, including |
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| 24 | 24 | | the Old Fiddlers Contest and Reunion, the Chamber of Commerce PRCA |
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| 25 | 25 | | Stampede Rodeo, the Athens Triathlon, and the Smith MDA Benefit |
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| 26 | 26 | | Rodeo; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy such cultural |
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| 28 | 28 | | institutions as the East Texas Arboretum, the Henderson County |
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| 29 | 29 | | Historical Museum, the Henderson County Performing Arts Center, the |
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| 30 | 30 | | Cain Center, the Henderson County Fairpark Complex, and the Texas |
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| 31 | 31 | | Freshwater Fisheries Center, where 300,000 gallons of aquarium |
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| 32 | 32 | | exhibits feature a wide variety of native Texas fish in natural |
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| 33 | 33 | | environments; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, With its relaxed way of life and many attractive |
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| 35 | 35 | | amenities, Athens has much to offer retirees and has been |
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| 36 | 36 | | recognized as a Certified Retirement Community by the Texas |
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| 37 | 37 | | Department of Agriculture; and |
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| 38 | 38 | | WHEREAS, This lovely city continues to be one of the Lone Star |
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| 39 | 39 | | State's great assets and an outstanding place in which to live, |
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| 40 | 40 | | work, and raise a family, and its citizens may indeed take pride in |
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| 41 | 41 | | their hometown's ongoing achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 43 | 43 | | Legislature hereby recognize February 18, 2015, as Athens Day at |
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| 44 | 44 | | the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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| 45 | 45 | | best wishes for a memorable stay in Austin. |
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