89R11003 BK-D
By: Leo Wilson H.C.R. No. 50
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The celebration of Mardi Gras has a rich and
colorful history in Galveston, where it has become one of the city's
most anticipated annual events; and
WHEREAS, The first documented Mardi Gras festivities took
place in Galveston in 1867; revelers observed the holiday with
events that included a masquerade ball and a performance of William
Shakespeare's Henry IV, and over the ensuing decades, parades and
other larger gatherings began to be introduced; by the 1870s, Mardi
Gras in Galveston had evolved into a grander and more organized
affair, with krewes such as the Knights of Momus and the Knights of
Myth overseeing the planning of parades and balls; and
WHEREAS, During the early decades of the 1900s, various local
groups assumed responsibility for coordinating Mardi Gras events,
including the Galveston Booster Club, which merged with the
Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce in 1937, beginning the
chamber's oversight of the celebration; after festivities went
dormant with the onset of World War II, private Mardi Gras
gatherings were held by churches, social clubs, and local families,
and that practice continued for more than four decades; in 1985,
businessman and developer George P. Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia
Woods Mitchell, led the effort to restore the tradition to its
former glory and reinstate Mardi Gras as a citywide extravaganza;
and
WHEREAS, Today, Galveston boasts one of the largest Mardi
Gras festivals in the country; the celebration spans the two weeks
preceding Lent and ends on Fat Tuesday; activities are concentrated
in Galveston's historic downtown area, along the beachfront, and on
Seawall Boulevard; the observance continues to encompass parades,
balcony parties, balls, and other timeless attractions, creating an
atmosphere of joy and revelry for those of all ages; and
WHEREAS, For more than 150 years, Galveston has nurtured a
rich Mardi Gras culture that is distinctly Texan in spirit, and the
enduring popularity of the event attests to the pride and
enthusiasm shared by area residents for an institution that is such
a vital part of the community's heritage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate Galveston as the official Mardi Gras Capital of
Texas; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section
391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally
passed by the legislature.