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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Residents of Panola County are gathering in Austin |
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| 8 | 9 | | on March 11, 2025, to celebrate Panola County Day at the State |
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| 9 | 10 | | Capitol; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Located in northeastern Texas and forming part of |
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| 11 | 12 | | the state's border with Louisiana, Panola County covers more than |
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| 12 | 13 | | 800 square miles of forests and rolling plains and is traversed by |
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| 13 | 14 | | the Sabine River; the Texas Legislature officially created Panola |
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| 14 | 15 | | County on March 30, 1846, and two years later, voters chose Carthage |
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| 15 | 16 | | as the county seat; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, It is believed that Judge John Allison, a prominent |
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| 17 | 18 | | civic leader, suggested the name Panola, which may be derived from |
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| 18 | 19 | | the Cherokee word for cotton, ponolo; the area's rich soil was well |
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| 19 | 20 | | suited to the crop, and cotton became the county's main |
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| 20 | 21 | | agricultural product; today, the lush forests also make the county |
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| 21 | 22 | | a popular destination for hiking, birding, and camping enthusiasts, |
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| 22 | 23 | | while anglers enjoy the good fishing waters of Martin Creek Lake and |
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| 23 | 24 | | Lake Murvaul; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Panola County's rich heritage is recognized by |
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| 25 | 26 | | nearly 60 Texas Historical Commission markers; the county was the |
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| 26 | 27 | | birthplace of several notable Texans, including Margie Elizabeth |
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| 27 | 28 | | Neal, the first woman elected to serve in the Texas Senate, and |
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| 28 | 29 | | country music stars Tex Ritter and Jim Reeves; a museum dedicated to |
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| 29 | 30 | | Mr. Ritter and a memorial devoted to Mr. Reeves are located in |
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| 30 | 31 | | Carthage, as is the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, which honors |
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| 31 | 32 | | the legacies of both of these men, along with other country music |
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| 32 | 33 | | legends from the state; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Named a National Main Street City in Texas, Carthage |
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| 34 | 35 | | is also home to Panola College and the historic Esquire Theater, |
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| 35 | 36 | | which hosts the Country Music Hayride live show; other popular |
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| 36 | 37 | | events taking place in the county seat include the Piney Woods Quilt |
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| 37 | 38 | | Festival in April, the annual Classic Country Music Festival |
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| 38 | 39 | | Weekend in August, and Potlatch, an art, food, and music festival |
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| 39 | 40 | | that takes place in the fall; and |
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| 40 | 41 | | WHEREAS, The citizens of Panola County take great pride in |
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| 41 | 42 | | their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter |
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| 42 | 43 | | future, and it is indeed fitting to honor them for their unique |
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| 43 | 44 | | contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | Legislature hereby recognize March 11, 2025, as Panola County Day |
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| 46 | 47 | | at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting |
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| 47 | 48 | | delegation. |
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