H.R. No. 996
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The citizens of Ellis County take great pride in the
area's rich history and in a county government with a deep
commitment to preserving the region's heritage; and
WHEREAS, The county was established by the Texas Legislature
on December 20, 1849, and named for Richard Ellis, president of the
Convention of 1836 that led to the independence of Texas; during the
1850s, many Czechs, Hungarians, and Germans settled in the area to
raise cattle on the rolling Blackland Prairie, and with the arrival
of the railroad in 1872, cotton farming became essential to the
county's economy; today, the county benefits from a diversified
economy based on cotton farming and ranching as well as cement and
steel production, and it is also a major hub for warehousing and
distribution; and
WHEREAS, County seat Waxahachie is widely known as the
Gingerbread City for its lovely Victorian homes and for its
handsome courthouse, which was described by author James Michener
as a "fairy tale palace replete with battlements and turrets and
spires"; the county also boasts numerous Texas Historical Markers
celebrating the legacy of its homes, churches, cemeteries, and
other buildings and sites; and
WHEREAS, The county is fortunate to have many dedicated
public officials who work tirelessly to preserve this rich heritage
while helping to build a more prosperous future; these include
County Judge Todd Little and the members of the Commissioners
Court, Randy Stinson of Precinct 1, Lane Grayson of Precinct 2, Paul
Perry of Precinct 3, and Kyle Butler of Precinct 4, as well as
district clerk Krystal Valdez, county treasurer Cheryl Chambers,
and tax assessor Richard Rozier; and
WHEREAS, The county's expert law enforcement personnel
include Sheriff Brad Norman and constables Roy Callender Jr. of
Precinct 1, Casey Borders of Precinct 2, Curtis Polk Jr. of Precinct
3, and Mike Jones of Precinct 4, as well as justices of the peace
Chris Macon of Precinct 1, Jackie Miller Jr. of Precinct 2, Dan D.
Cox of Precinct 3, and Steve Egan of Precinct 4; the courts benefit
from the efforts of district attorney Ann Montgomery, Judge Jim
Chapman of County Court at Law 1, Judge A. Gene Calvert Jr. of
County Court at Law 2, and Judge Joseph R. Gallo of County of Court
at Law 3; Judge Bob Carroll presides over the 40th Judicial District
Court, while Judge William D. Wallace presides over the 378th
Judicial District Court and Judge Cindy Ermatinger presides over
the 443rd Judicial District Court; and
WHEREAS, Both picturesque and dynamic, Ellis County is one of
the great assets of the Lone Star State, and its hardworking and
innovative residents continue to honor their history as they look
forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the heritage of Ellis County and
extend to the county's elected officials sincere best wishes for
continued success in their important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ellis County as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Ellzey
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 996 was adopted by the House on May 8,
2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House