| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 449 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Rusk County are assembling at |
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| 3 | 3 | | the Texas State Capitol to celebrate Rusk County Days on March 31 |
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| 4 | 4 | | and April 1, 2015; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, A picturesque region of rolling hills in the Piney |
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| 6 | 6 | | Woods of East Texas, Rusk County was first occupied by the Caddo |
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| 7 | 7 | | and the Cherokee tribes; the first European settlers arrived in |
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| 8 | 8 | | the 1830s, and on January 16, 1843, the county was formed by act |
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| 9 | 9 | | of the Congress of the Republic of Texas and named after Thomas |
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| 10 | 10 | | Jefferson Rusk, secretary of war under Texas President Sam |
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| 11 | 11 | | Houston; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, For many years, the county's economy was based on |
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| 13 | 13 | | cotton and other agriculture, but on October 3, 1930, Columbus |
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| 14 | 14 | | Marion "Dad" Joiner struck oil at his famous Daisy Bradford |
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| 15 | 15 | | Number 3 well, opening up the East Texas oil field, which at the |
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| 16 | 16 | | time was the largest oil field in the world; three years later, |
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| 17 | 17 | | Rusk County was producing over 200 million barrels of petroleum a |
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| 18 | 18 | | year, turning county seat Henderson from a sleepy village to a |
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| 19 | 19 | | bustling boomtown; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Oil and agriculture continue to be mainstays of |
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| 21 | 21 | | the county's economy, along with natural gas, timber, and the |
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| 22 | 22 | | mining of lignite coal; in addition, Rusk County's bricks, made |
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| 23 | 23 | | from the region's unique clay soil, are highly prized; the county |
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| 24 | 24 | | economy is further bolstered by two correctional institutions, |
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| 25 | 25 | | including the Bradshaw State Jail in Henderson; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Only two miles from "Dad" Joiner's original well, |
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| 27 | 27 | | the Gaston Museum in Joinerville commemorates the history of the |
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| 28 | 28 | | East Texas oil field; in Henderson, the Depot Museum, a |
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| 29 | 29 | | beautifully restored Missouri Pacific railway depot from 1901, |
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| 30 | 30 | | hosts the annual Heritage Syrup Festival every November; |
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| 31 | 31 | | recreational opportunities abound in the county's parks, |
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| 32 | 32 | | including Martin Creek Lake State Park, which offers swimming, |
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| 33 | 33 | | boating, fishing, waterskiing, and other activities; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Honoring their heritage as they embrace the |
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| 35 | 35 | | opportunities of the future, the citizens of Rusk County may take |
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| 36 | 36 | | great pride in the role their communities have played in the |
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| 37 | 37 | | story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 39 | 39 | | Legislature, hereby recognize March 31 and April 1, 2015, as Rusk |
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| 40 | 40 | | County Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting |
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| 41 | 41 | | delegation sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable |
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| 42 | 42 | | stay in Austin. |
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| 43 | 43 | | Eltife |
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| 44 | 44 | | ________________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | President of the Senate |
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| 46 | 46 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 47 | 47 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 48 | 48 | | the Senate on March 30, 2015. |
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| 49 | 49 | | ________________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 51 | 51 | | ________________________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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