SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 140
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Bee County are gathering at the
State Capitol to celebrate Bee County Day on February 8, 2023;
and
WHEREAS, Artifacts indicate that the Bee County area was
originally inhabited by humans 6,000 to 10,000 years ago; the
first permanent European settlers arrived in the early 1800s, and
later, 11 area landowners were among the signers of the Texas
Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, On January 25, 1858, the county was officially
organized and was named for Barnard E. Bee Sr., an accomplished
statesman from South Carolina who later served as secretary of
war under Sam Houston; and
WHEREAS, Located in the South Texas Plains vegetation
region, Bee County covers 866 square miles that gently slope
toward the Gulf of Mexico; with the area's open expanses of
grasslands, its economy is dominated by farming and ranching,
along with its thriving oil and gas operations and agribusiness;
Beeville, the county seat, has revitalized its downtown district
and has been recognized as a Texas Main Street City by the Texas
Historical Commission, and other towns in the county include
Skidmore, Blue Berry Hill, Pettus, Tuleta, Tynan, Pawnee,
Normanna, and Mineral; and
WHEREAS, Coastal Bend College-Beeville offers
occupational as well as academic classes for its students, and it
has the oldest academic educational glassblowing facility in the
state; art enthusiasts may delight in the exhibits of the
Beeville Art Museum, which is funded by the Joe Barnhart
Foundation and housed in the historic Esther Barnhart House; in
addition, visitors come from all across Texas to celebrate the
state's rich traditions at Western Week, one of the county's
largest and longest-running festivals; and
WHEREAS, Bee County is host to many cultural and historical
attractions that make it an inviting place to live and an
interesting area to visit, and its residents may take great pride
in their vibrant heritage and myriad contributions as they look
toward a bright and prosperous future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 8, 2023, as Bee County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation
sincere best wishes for a memorable stay in Austin.
LaMantia
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 8, 2023.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate