| 2 | 7 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 8 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 9 | | HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
|---|
| 5 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The City of Port Arthur has been steeped in Cajun |
|---|
| 6 | 11 | | culture for nearly a century; and |
|---|
| 7 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Located in the southeastern corner of Texas, Port |
|---|
| 8 | 13 | | Arthur is a close neighbor to the Louisiana bayou region where the |
|---|
| 9 | 14 | | Acadians, or Cajuns, settled in the mid-1700s after being forced |
|---|
| 10 | 15 | | out of Nova Scotia; in 1927, the Great Mississippi Flood drove tens |
|---|
| 11 | 16 | | of thousands from their homes in the Acadiana parishes of |
|---|
| 12 | 17 | | Louisiana, and many of those displaced made their way to Port |
|---|
| 13 | 18 | | Arthur, drawn by the ample employment opportunities in the |
|---|
| 14 | 19 | | burgeoning petroleum industry and other sectors of the coastal |
|---|
| 15 | 20 | | economy; and |
|---|
| 16 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Louisiana Cajuns brought their distinctive culture, |
|---|
| 17 | 22 | | which took root and flourished in their adopted city; local cuisine |
|---|
| 18 | 23 | | acquired a Cajun flavor, with a boost from the family that opened |
|---|
| 19 | 24 | | Judice's French Market in 1927; the restaurant helped popularize |
|---|
| 20 | 25 | | such delicacies as crawfish, gumbo, and hot boudin, and its |
|---|
| 21 | 26 | | longtime spokesman, A. J. Judice, "the Crazy Frenchman," became a |
|---|
| 22 | 27 | | beloved ambassador of Cajun heritage; among other achievements, he |
|---|
| 23 | 28 | | served as the impresario of the improbable pastime of crawfish |
|---|
| 24 | 29 | | racing, which led to his tongue-in-cheek appointment as the sport's |
|---|
| 25 | 30 | | commissioner by Texas governor Preston Smith in the early 1960s; |
|---|
| 26 | 31 | | Port Arthur's Cajun community was also home to whiskey distiller |
|---|
| 27 | 32 | | and entrepreneur Jack LaBove, who helped the city survive the dark |
|---|
| 28 | 33 | | days of Prohibition; and |
|---|
| 29 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Renowned for their love of music, Port Arthur |
|---|
| 30 | 35 | | residents danced to such artists as Harry Choates, the "Godfather |
|---|
| 31 | 36 | | of Cajun Music" and the "Fiddle King of Cajun Swing," whose 1946 |
|---|
| 32 | 37 | | recording of "Jole Blon" is considered iconic; favorite venues |
|---|
| 33 | 38 | | included the Rodair Club, which showcased the music and nurtured |
|---|
| 34 | 39 | | aspiring musicians such as accordionist Jude Moreau; today, younger |
|---|
| 35 | 40 | | players like Donovan Bourque continue the tradition, keeping the |
|---|
| 36 | 41 | | infectious Cajun rhythm part of the city's soundtrack; and |
|---|
| 37 | 42 | | WHEREAS, Warm and friendly Cajun hospitality thrives |
|---|
| 38 | 43 | | everywhere in Port Arthur, from fais-dodo house parties to major |
|---|
| 39 | 44 | | events, among them the annual Cajun Heritage Fest; moreover, the |
|---|
| 40 | 45 | | Museum of the Gulf Coast does its part to preserve and focus |
|---|
| 41 | 46 | | attention on Cajun history and traditions; and |
|---|
| 42 | 47 | | WHEREAS, Port Arthur takes great pride in the Cajun influence |
|---|
| 43 | 48 | | that pervades so many aspects of life in the city, and residents of |
|---|
| 44 | 49 | | all backgrounds enjoy celebrating these distinctive elements of |
|---|
| 45 | 50 | | their culture; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 46 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|---|
| 47 | 52 | | hereby designate Port Arthur as the official Cajun Capital of |
|---|
| 48 | 53 | | Texas; and, be it further |
|---|
| 49 | 54 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
|---|
| 50 | 55 | | 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
|---|
| 51 | 56 | | until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
|---|
| 52 | 57 | | passed by the legislature. |
|---|