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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Rusk County are assembling at the |
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| 6 | 7 | | Texas State Capitol to celebrate Rusk County Days on March 29 and |
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| 7 | 8 | | 30, 2017; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A picturesque region of rolling hills in the Piney |
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| 9 | 10 | | Woods of East Texas, Rusk County was first occupied by the Caddo and |
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| 10 | 11 | | the Cherokee tribes; the first European settlers arrived in the |
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| 11 | 12 | | 1830s, and on January 16, 1843, the county was formed by act of the |
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| 12 | 13 | | Congress of the Republic of Texas and named after Thomas Jefferson |
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| 13 | 14 | | Rusk, secretary of war under Texas President Sam Houston; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, For many years, the county's economy was based on |
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| 15 | 16 | | cotton and other agriculture, but on October 3, 1930, Columbus |
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| 16 | 17 | | Marion "Dad" Joiner struck oil at his famous Daisy Bradford No. 3 |
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| 17 | 18 | | well, opening up the East Texas oil field, which at the time was the |
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| 18 | 19 | | largest oil field in the world; three years later, Rusk County was |
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| 19 | 20 | | producing over 200 million barrels of petroleum a year, turning |
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| 20 | 21 | | county seat Henderson from a sleepy village to a bustling boomtown; |
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| 21 | 22 | | and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Oil and agriculture continue to be mainstays of the |
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| 23 | 24 | | county's economy, along with natural gas, timber, and the mining of |
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| 24 | 25 | | lignite coal; in addition, Rusk County's bricks, made from the |
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| 25 | 26 | | region's unique clay soil, are highly prized; the county economy is |
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| 26 | 27 | | further bolstered by two correctional institutions, including the |
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| 27 | 28 | | Bradshaw State Jail in Henderson; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Only two miles from "Dad" Joiner's original well, |
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| 29 | 30 | | the Gaston Museum in Joinerville commemorates the history of the |
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| 30 | 31 | | East Texas oil field; in Henderson, the Depot Museum, a beautifully |
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| 31 | 32 | | restored Missouri Pacific railway depot from 1901, hosts the annual |
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| 32 | 33 | | Heritage Syrup Festival every November; recreational opportunities |
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| 33 | 34 | | abound in the county's parks, including Martin Creek Lake State |
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| 34 | 35 | | Park, which offers swimming, boating, fishing, waterskiing, and |
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| 35 | 36 | | other activities; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, The people of Rusk County take great pride in their |
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| 37 | 38 | | rich history as they work together to build an even brighter future, |
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| 38 | 39 | | and it is indeed fitting to honor them and their unique |
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| 39 | 40 | | contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, |
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| 40 | 41 | | be it |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 42 | 43 | | Legislature hereby recognize March 29 and 30, 2017, as Rusk County |
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| 43 | 44 | | Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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| 44 | 45 | | sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |
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