85R9541 KSM-D
By: Paddie H.R. No. 325
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Panola County are gathering in Austin
on February 7, 2017, to celebrate Panola County Day at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Located in northeastern Texas and forming part of
the state's border with Louisiana, Panola County covers more than
800 square miles of forests and rolling plains and is traversed by
the Sabine River; the area experienced a land rush in the 1830s as
settlers arrived from the southern United States; on March 30,
1846, the Texas Legislature officially created Panola County, and
two years later, voters chose Carthage as the county seat; and
WHEREAS, It is believed that Judge John Allison, a prominent
civic leader, suggested the name Panola, which may be derived from
the Cherokee word for cotton, ponolo; the area's rich soil was well
suited to the crop, and cotton became the county's main
agricultural product; today, Panola County enjoys a diversified
economy, primarily based in oil and gas production, agriculture,
food processing, and timber; the lush forests also make the county a
popular destination for hiking, birding, and camping enthusiasts,
while anglers enjoy the good fishing waters of Martin Creek Lake and
Murvaul Lake; and
WHEREAS, With nearly 50 Texas Historical Commission markers,
Panola County has a rich and fascinating history; it was the
birthplace of several notable Texans, including Margie Elizabeth
Neal, the first woman elected to serve in the Texas Senate, and
country music stars Tex Ritter and Jim Reeves; a museum dedicated to
Mr. Ritter and a memorial devoted to Mr. Reeves are located in
Carthage, as is the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, which honors
the legacies of both of these men, along with other country music
legends from the state; and
WHEREAS, Carthage, which was named a National Main Street
City in Texas in 2011, is also home to Panola College and the
historic Esquire Theater, which hosts the Country Music Hayride
live music show every Saturday night; other popular events taking
place in the county seat include the Piney Woods Quilt Festival in
April and the East Texas Oil and Gas Blast in October, which
features music, a car show, and arts and crafts; in addition, the
Footprints in the Sand monument, a poignant religious sculpture at
Pippen Memorial Park, was completed in 2014; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Panola County take great pride in
their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter
future, and it is indeed fitting to honor them and their unique
contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Panola County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin.