85R8447 KSM-D
By: Clardy H.R. No. 290
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On February 16, 2017, members of the Nacogdoches
County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Nacogdoches, and Stephen F.
Austin State University and its Student Government and Alumni
Associations are visiting Austin to celebrate Nacogdoches-SFA Day
at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Nacogdoches is the site of a Caddo Native American
settlement and a Spanish mission established in 1716; founded by
Antonio Gil Y'Barbo, it received designation from Spain as a pueblo
in 1779, and today it proudly calls itself the first town in Texas;
and
WHEREAS, The city became an important gateway for trade with
the French and later the Americans, and claims among its lengthy
list of Texas milestones being home to the first English-language
newspaper, oil well, and two-story building, as well as the state's
inaugural district court session; the nine flags flown over the
city include those of three short-lived early republics; and
WHEREAS, Today, the vintage charm of Nacogdoches brings
myriad tourists, who explore such attractions as the Old Stone
Fort, the Victorian homes along Mound Street, the 19th-century
buildings of Millard's Crossing, and the quaint antique shops and
restaurants along brick downtown streets; many also come to enjoy
the state-sanctioned Texas Blueberry Festival, which celebrates
the importance of the Texas blueberry industry, and to participate
in recreational activities at Lake Nacogdoches, Lake Naconiche, and
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, all known for their bass fishing; in
addition to tourism, the primary industries of the area include
agricultural services, manufacturing, and oil and gas, and the
construction and completion of the Interstate 69 system is critical
to continuing development in Nacogdoches County; and
WHEREAS, Education has been an important part of the area's
economy since Stephen F. Austin State University opened its doors
to 158 students on September 18, 1923; its alumni association was
organized just five years later and has worked diligently through
the years to support the school, which now has an enrollment of
approximately 13,000 students; SFA boasts an exceptionally scenic
campus recognized for the SFA Gardens and also operates a beef and
poultry farm, a dairy farm, an experimental forest, a forestry
field station, and the Waters of East Texas Center; its observatory
is the second largest not only in Texas but also in the Central Time
Zone, and on November 7, 2016, a groundbreaking ceremony was held
for the Ed and Gwen Cole STEM Building, which will provide new
educational opportunities for all Texans; and
WHEREAS, Beautifully situated in the Texas Forest Country,
Nacogdoches is attracting active retired Texans; it was one of the
first three communities in Texas recognized as a Go Texan certified
retirement community because of its cultural and sporting events,
health care, safety, and continuing education opportunities;
additionally, it has been designated the official Garden Capital of
Texas; and
WHEREAS, The combination of numerous amenities and a
neighborly atmosphere makes Nacogdoches a splendid place to live,
work, and study, and it is a pleasure to welcome those representing
the many facets of this vibrant part of the Lone Star State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 16, 2017, as Nacogdoches-SFA
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin.