TITLE: Recognizing March 6, 2013, as Wilbarger County and City of Vernon Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 6, 2013, as Wilbarger County and City of Vernon Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Vernon and Wilbarger County are gathering to celebrate Wilbarger County and City of Vernon Day at the State Capitol on March 6, 2013; and WHEREAS, Situated upon the rolling grasslands of North Texas, Wilbarger County was once part of the buffalo hunting grounds of the Comanche; named for early settlers Josiah and Mathias Wilbarger, the county was established in 1858; a branch of the Western Trail passed through the area, and six million longhorn traversed the Red River at Doan's Crossing during the great cattle drives; oil, discovered in the early 20th century, remains important to the region's economy; and WHEREAS, County seat Vernon was originally called Eagle Flat for the abundance of nesting eagles nearby; today, the city is a center for farming, ranching, and the petroleum industry; the birthplace of rock and roll legend Roy Orbison, the town is also home to Vernon College and the Red River Valley Museum, which chronicles the history, culture, and geography of the region; and WHEREAS, Established in 1849, the Waggoner Ranch, south of Vernon, is the largest ranch in Texas under one fence and a five-time winner of the Texas Ranch Roundup; the Santa Rosa Palomino Club is a renowned precision equestrian riding club, and the club's annual Santa Rosa Roundup draws thousands of visitors and top professional rodeo riders; residents and visitors alike also enjoy the picnic every May at Doan's Crossing, one of the oldest annual events in Texas; and WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich and colorful history as they work together to build a bright future, the citizens of Vernon and Wilbarger County may take justifiable pride in the important role their unique region continues to play in the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 6, 2013, as Wilbarger County and City of Vernon Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin. Springer Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 671 was adopted by the House on March 6, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House