88R11019 TBO-D
By: Cain H.R. No. 162
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Baytown are gathering in Austin
on February 15, 2023, to take part in Baytown Day at the State
Capitol and to celebrate the vibrant community they call home; and
WHEREAS, In 1822, Nathaniel Lynch started a ferry service at
the confluence of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou near the
Gulf of Mexico; two years later, William Scott, one of Stephen
F. Austin's Old 300 settlers, established a homestead nearby, and a
community named Bay Town grew up around it; other early settlers
included Sam Houston and David G. Burnet, who each served as
president of the Republic of Texas, and Mrs. Anson Jones, wife of
the fourth and final Texas president; and
WHEREAS, The area remained mostly rural until 1908, when oil
was discovered near Tabbs Bay, and in 1916, the first offshore
drilling site in Texas was established near Goose Creek; starting
in 1917, two towns, Pelly and Goose Creek, grew up around the oil
fields, and that same year, Ross S. Sterling founded the Humble Oil
and Refining Company, now known as ExxonMobil; in 1923, Humble Oil
began laying out streets, installing utilities, and financing homes
for its employees; in 1947, Pelly and Goose Creek consolidated, and
on January 24, 1948, the city of Baytown was established, with a
population of nearly 21,000 people; and
WHEREAS, In 2023, Baytown is celebrating the 75th anniversary
of its incorporation with a series of public events; residents are
invited to join in commemorating this milestone year by
participating in 75 activities hosted throughout the city; and
WHEREAS, Today, Baytown is a dynamic community of more than
82,000 residents; its educational institutions include the Goose
Creek Consolidated Independent School District and Lee College, and
it boasts a downtown arts district that features the Baytown Little
Theater, the Lee College Performing Arts Center, the Art Gallery of
Baytown, and the Baytown Public Art Program; visitors are drawn by
the opportunities for fishing, boating, and kayaking, and wildlife
and birding enthusiasts enjoy the opportunities offered by the
Baytown Nature Center and the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education
Center; other popular destinations in the area include Houston
Raceway Park, the Baytown Historical Museum, and the Baytown
Sculpture Trail; and
WHEREAS, Among Baytown's notable natives are such figures as
Pastor John Hagee, actor Gary Busey, former Houston mayor Bob
Lanier, rock and roll musician Bobby Fuller, professional football
player Howard Sampson, tennis great Sherwood Stewart, and singer
and The Voice contestant RaeLynn Woodward; and
WHEREAS, The city and its residents benefit from the capable
leadership of Mayor Brandon Capetillo and the six members of the
city council, Laura Alvarado, Sarah Graham, Ken Griffith, Heather
Betancourth, Jacob Powell, and Mike Lester; and
WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich and colorful history as they
work together to build an even brighter tomorrow, the citizens of
Baytown may take justifiable pride in the important role their
community continues to play in the story of the Lone Star State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 15, 2023, as Baytown Day at
the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting
delegation.