H.R. No. 1313
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Lampasas are gathering in Austin
on May 1, 2023, to celebrate Lampasas Day at the State Capitol and
to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the community's founding;
and
WHEREAS, In 1760, a mission and presidio were built just west
of the site of modern-day Lampasas at a time when the area was under
Spanish rule; during the Revolutionary War, Lampasas would figure
into a pivotal chapter of American history when Isaac Cox, a
Pennsylvanian and Spanish army veteran, and seven of his nephews
delivered over 700 horses from the area to Major General Charles
Lee, a high-ranking officer in the Continental Army under General
George Washington; Lampasas County would go on to supply horses for
the U.S. military's use in the Spanish-American War, World War I,
and World War II as well; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1850s, Moses Hughes and his family were
among the first Anglo settlers to arrive in the area; Mr. Hughes and
his ailing wife, Hannah, came in search of mineral springs due to
their rumored healing properties; news of Mrs. Hughes's reported
cure drew others to the community, and the town's growth in
population led the Texas Legislature to declare Lampasas, formerly
called Burleson, as the seat of the newly created Lampasas County on
February 1, 1856; and
WHEREAS, The City of Lampasas was officially incorporated by
the 12th Texas Legislature on April 13, 1873; several years later, a
group of farmers gathered to discuss the economic issues that were
impacting their livelihoods, which provided the impetus for the
creation of the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union,
also known as the Farmers' Alliance; the organization would become
a powerful nationwide political movement that, at its height, had a
membership of nearly three million; and
WHEREAS, Beginning in 1882, the arrival of the railroad
brought visitors from all over the country to the mineral baths and
grand hotels of Lampasas, which acquired the moniker "the Saratoga
of the South"; Lampasas went on to become the birthplace of the
Texas Bankers Association, the oldest state banking association in
the nation; it was organized in 1885 by two local bankers, Frank
Malone and E. M. Longcope, and had its first meeting at the
luxurious 200-room Lampasas Park Hotel; the rapidly growing town
was also selected as the location for the 1892 Texas Democratic
Convention, which took place at the spacious Hannah Springs
Auditorium; and
WHEREAS, Lampasas has been home to a number of famous
figures, including Olympic gold medalist and professional football
player Johnny "Lam" Jones, Keith Null of the St. Louis Rams, and
1970 Super Bowl veteran Jim Hargrove of the Minnesota Vikings and
St. Louis Cardinals; the list of notable natives also includes
Stanley Walker, author, journalist, and editor of the New York
Herald Tribune during the 1920s and 1930s, whose 1956 book Home to
Texas describes his return to Lampasas after 40 years in New York;
among other Lampasas icons are Grammy Award-winning fiddle player
Jason Roberts and country music artists Dale and Terry McBride and
Donnie Price, as well as prominent individuals such as Joy Mahana
Bishop, the first woman appointed to the Senior Executive Service,
and William Thomas Campbell, co-founder and treasurer of Texaco
Oil; and
WHEREAS, Today, Lampasas boasts an array of historic
buildings that showcase the community's past, including the Old
Huling Mansion, the Moses Hughes Home, the Keystone Star Hotel, the
Major Martin White House, and the Adelphia; residents and visitors
enjoy such amenities as the town's four local wineries, as well as
popular eateries like Eve's Café, one of the top customer-rated
German restaurants in the U.S., and Storm's Drive-In, a favorite of
Elvis Presley when the legendary rock and roll singer was stationed
at Fort Hood; area citizens keep up with local news and events by
reading the Lampasas Dispatch Record newspaper, which dates back to
1906, and flock to annual gatherings such as the week-long Spring Ho
Festival in July and the Riata Roundup Rodeo in April; and
WHEREAS, The people of Lampasas are heirs to a rich and
fascinating history, and they may indeed take pride in the vibrant
community they have built as they come together to mark this
important milestone; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize May 1, 2023, as Lampasas Day at the
State Capitol and extend to its residents sincere best wishes for a
meaningful and memorable celebration of the city's
sesquicentennial; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the City of Lampasas as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.
Spiller
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1313 was adopted by the House on May
6, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House