TITLE: Recognizing February 16 and 17, 2011, as Nacogdoches-SFA Days at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 16 and 17, 2011, as Nacogdoches-SFA Days at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, On February 16 and 17, 2011, members of the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Nacogdoches, and Stephen F. Austin State University and its Student Government and Alumni Associations are visiting Austin to celebrate Nacogdoches-SFA Days at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Nacogdoches is one of the oldest communities in the state, the site of a Caddo Native American settlement and a Spanish mission established in 1716; the city became an important gateway for trade with the French and later the Americans, and its lengthy list of Texas milestones includes the first newspaper, oil well, and two-story building, as well as the state's inaugural district court session; the nine flags flown over the city include those of three short-lived early republics; and WHEREAS, Today, the vintage charm of Nacogdoches brings myriad tourists, who explore such attractions as the Old Stone Fort, the Victorian homes along Mound Street, the 19th-century buildings of Millard's Crossing, and the quaint antique shops and restaurants along brick downtown streets; many also come to enjoy recreational activities at Nacogdoches Lake and Sam Rayburn Reservoir, known for their bass fishing; in addition to education and tourism, primary industries include agricultural services, manufacturing, and oil and gas; and WHEREAS, Education has been an important part of the area's economy since Stephen F. Austin State University opened its doors to 158 students on September 18, 1923; its alumni association was organized just five years later and has worked diligently through the years to support the school, which now has an enrollment of nearly 13,000 students; SFA boasts an exceptionally scenic campus and also operates a beef and poultry farm, a dairy farm, an experimental forest, and a forestry field station; its observatory is the second largest not only in Texas but also in the Central Time Zone; and WHEREAS, Beautifully situated in the Texas Forest Country, Nacogdoches is attracting active retired Texans; it was one of the first three communities in Texas recognized as a Go Texan certified retirement community because of its cultural and sporting events, health care, safety, and continuing education opportunities; and WHEREAS, The combination of numerous amenities and a neighborly atmosphere makes Nacogdoches a splendid place to live, work, and study, and it is a pleasure to welcome those representing the many facets of this vibrant part of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 16 and 17, 2011, as Nacogdoches-SFA Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for a memorable stay in Austin; and, be it further RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared for the group as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Christian Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Allen Gooden Murphy Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Aycock Harless Parker Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Berman Hartnett Paxton Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Branch Hochberg Phillips Brown Hopson Pickett Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burnam Howard of Travis Price Button Huberty Quintanilla Cain Hughes Raymond Callegari Hunter Reynolds Carter Isaac Riddle Castro Jackson Ritter Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Christian Keffer Schwertner Coleman King of Parker Scott Cook King of Taylor Sheets Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons Deshotel Lavender Strama Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dutton Lozano Thompson Eiland Lucio III Torres Eissler Lyne Truitt Elkins Madden Turner Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farrar Margo Villarreal Fletcher Marquez Vo Flynn Martinez Walle Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Gallego McClendon White Garza Menendez Woolley Geren Miles Workman Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 252 was adopted by the House on February 17, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House