SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 211
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 it 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
many 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 the 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; the university 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, the city 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
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.
Nichols
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 15, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate