SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 533
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Lampasas are celebrating their
city's sesquicentennial in 2023; 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 was the birthplace of the Texas Bankers
Association, the oldest state banking association in the nation;
organized in 1885 by two local bankers, Frank Malone and E. M.
Longcope, the group 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 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 Lampasas
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 the city
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, cofounder 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, Celebrating their unique history as they work to
build an even brighter future, the citizens of Lampasas are
justifiably proud of their community, and it is indeed fitting to
honor the contributions they have made to the story of the Lone
Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lampasas
and extend to its residents sincere best wishes for the future.
Flores
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 9, 2023.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate