| 1 | 1 | | By: Pierson H.C.R. No. 39 |
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| 6 | 6 | | HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, For more than 70 years, Rockwall County has been a |
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| 8 | 8 | | sought-after destination for brides- and grooms-to-be, and its |
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| 9 | 9 | | popularity as a marriage location is known throughout the Lone Star |
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| 10 | 10 | | State; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, During the 1940s and 1950s, couples flocked to |
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| 12 | 12 | | Rockwall County to tie the knot because of the unique approach that |
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| 13 | 13 | | the county took to administrating marriages in that era; a night |
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| 14 | 14 | | watchman at the courthouse, Gene Payne, filled in as the deputy |
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| 15 | 15 | | county clerk, which allowed marriage licenses to be issued at all |
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| 16 | 16 | | hours; in addition, a local doctor kept his office open late to |
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| 17 | 17 | | provide the blood tests that were required before a license could be |
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| 18 | 18 | | issued; the popularity of Rockwall County as a place to say "I do" |
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| 19 | 19 | | was such that justice of the peace Mildred Barnes, one of only a few |
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| 20 | 20 | | women in the state to serve in that role at the time, officiated the |
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| 21 | 21 | | weddings of more than 6,000 couples from 1952 to 1957; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, The practice of issuing marriage licenses around the |
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| 23 | 23 | | clock ended in the 1950s, when the county was required by law to |
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| 24 | 24 | | provide this service during regular business hours; nevertheless, |
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| 25 | 25 | | the county has remained a top choice for prospective newlyweds |
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| 26 | 26 | | drawn by the uncommon beauty and elegance of its marriage |
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| 27 | 27 | | certificates, which have long been among the most coveted in the |
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| 28 | 28 | | state; the county is further admired for its wide selection of |
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| 29 | 29 | | wedding venues that suit a variety of tastes and styles, ranging |
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| 30 | 30 | | from luxurious manors to scenic gardens and pastoral ranch venues; |
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| 31 | 31 | | and |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Rockwall County has long served as the setting where |
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| 33 | 33 | | couples have shared their vows and embarked upon a momentous |
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| 34 | 34 | | journey together, and it is indeed fitting that the county be |
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| 35 | 35 | | formally recognized for its special connection to the institution |
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| 36 | 36 | | of marriage, both historically and in the present day; now, |
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| 37 | 37 | | therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 39 | 39 | | hereby designate Rockwall County as the official Marriage Capital |
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| 40 | 40 | | of Texas; and, be it further |
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| 41 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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| 42 | 42 | | Section 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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| 43 | 43 | | effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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| 44 | 44 | | finally passed by the legislature. |
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