85R19348 KSM-D
By: Zedler H.R. No. 1175
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Kennedale are gathering in Austin
to celebrate Kennedale Day at the State Capitol on March 30, 2017;
and
WHEREAS, Set among the rolling grasslands of southeast
Tarrant County, the site of Kennedale was originally inhabited by
Native American tribes who hunted and fished along Village Creek;
the Republic of Texas signed a treaty with the tribes in 1843, and
settlers began moving into the area over the following decades; and
WHEREAS, In 1882, John D. Hudson, C. B. Teague, and Oliver
S. Kennedy bought land around a mineral well; a post office was
opened on the land two years later, and in 1886, a town was laid out
and named Kennedale, after Mr. Kennedy; that same year, the Fort
Worth and New Orleans Railway Company built a line through the town
to connect Fort Worth and Waxahachie, along with a passenger depot
and several section houses as residences for its employees; during
that era, the town became known for its brickworks, and Kennedale
brick was used in several structures in Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, A town that has grown into a city since the regional
defense industry buildup of the 1940s, Kennedale today is an
attractive and comfortable community of approximately 8,000 people
who enjoy easy access to the amenities of Fort Worth and Arlington;
residents and visitors alike appreciate the opportunities for
recreation available at Rodgers Farm Park and Sonora Park, and a
replica of one of the original railway section houses stands at
TownCenter Park to provide a colorful reminder of the city's
history and a backdrop for the annual Brickworks Art in the Park
festival; and
WHEREAS, The city continues to thrive under the leadership of
Mayor Brian Johnson, Mayor Pro-Tem Kelly Turner, and city council
members Liz Carrington, Frank Fernandez, Charles Overstreet, and
Mike Walker; also contributing to the community's growth and
prosperity are the members of the board of the Kennedale Chamber of
Commerce, including Chair-Elect Becky Carlton, past chairs Tom Hala
and Monica Collier, treasurer Fred Moore, secretary Bob Hart,
members James Mulroy, Joe Taylor, Carl Hall, Monty Johnson, Mike
Johnson, and Mark Biondi, and ambassador ex officio Wayne Simmons;
and
WHEREAS, Preserving the city's small-town charm while
working to build an even brighter future, the citizens of Kennedale
are justifiably proud of their community, and it is indeed fitting
to honor them at this time; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 30, 2017, as Kennedale Day at
the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.