H.R. No. 335
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The City of Port Arthur has been steeped in Cajun
culture for nearly a century; and
WHEREAS, Located in the southeastern corner of Texas, Port
Arthur is a close neighbor to the Louisiana bayou region where the
Acadians, or Cajuns, settled in the mid-1700s after being forced
out of Nova Scotia; in 1927, the Great Mississippi Flood drove tens
of thousands from their homes in the Acadiana parishes of
Louisiana, and many of those displaced made their way to Port
Arthur, drawn by the ample employment opportunities in the
burgeoning petroleum industry and other sectors of the coastal
economy; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Cajuns brought their distinctive culture,
which took root and flourished in their adopted city; local cuisine
acquired a Cajun flavor, with a boost from the family that opened
Judice's French Market in 1927; the restaurant helped popularize
such delicacies as crawfish, gumbo, and hot boudin, and its
longtime spokesman, A. J. Judice, "the Crazy Frenchman," became a
beloved ambassador of Cajun heritage; among other achievements, he
served as the impresario of the improbable pastime of crawfish
racing, which led to his tongue-in-cheek appointment as the sport's
commissioner by Texas governor Preston Smith in the early 1960s;
Port Arthur's Cajun community was also home to whiskey distiller
and entrepreneur Jack LaBove, who helped the city survive the dark
days of Prohibition; and
WHEREAS, Renowned for their love of music, Port Arthur
residents danced to such artists as Harry Choates, the "Godfather
of Cajun Music" and the "Fiddle King of Cajun Swing," whose 1946
recording of "Jole Blon" is considered iconic; favorite venues
included the Rodair Club, which showcased the music and nurtured
aspiring musicians such as accordionist Jude Moreau; today, younger
players like Donovan Bourque continue the tradition, keeping the
infectious Cajun rhythm part of the city's soundtrack; and
WHEREAS, Warm and friendly Cajun hospitality thrives
everywhere in Port Arthur, from fais-dodo house parties to major
events, among them the annual Cajun Heritage Fest; moreover, the
Museum of the Gulf Coast does its part to preserve and focus
attention on Cajun history and traditions; and
WHEREAS, Port Arthur takes great pride in the Cajun influence
that pervades so many aspects of life in the city, and residents of
all backgrounds enjoy celebrating these distinctive elements of
their culture; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Cajun heritage of Port
Arthur.
Manuel
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 335 was adopted by the House on
February 28, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House