TITLE: Honoring Stewart Title Company of Houston as a recipient of the Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission.

SUMMARY: Honoring Stewart Title Company of Houston as a recipient of the Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Stewart Title Company of Houston, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2013, has achieved distinction for its myriad contributions to the economic growth and prosperity of Texas; and WHEREAS, Originally known as Stewart Law and Land Title Office, the company traces its beginnings to 1893, when attorney Maco Stewart purchased Gulf City Abstract Company in Galveston; in 1905, Mr. Stewart and his brother, Minor, offered the first title insurance to be sold in Texas; as the state grew, so did the need for accurate land documentation, and the company played a major role in the development of the title industry; Stewart Title Guaranty Company was the first firm authorized to write title insurance in Texas, and it soon opened offices in many major cities around the state; and WHEREAS, In 1956, Stewart Title began its expansion across the nation; the holding company Stewart Information Services Corporation was formed in 1970, and two years later it began trading publicly on the New York Stock Exchange; by the 1990s, the company had more than 2,700 branches and a presence in all 50 states; the firm has repeatedly appeared in Forbes magazine's list of top performing big companies, and in 2012 it was the only title company to be named by Forbes as "One of America's Most Trustworthy Companies"; and WHEREAS, Stewart Title has long been a leading corporate citizen in its home state; the business supports myriad community initiatives, charitable organizations, educational programs, and first-time homebuyer assistance efforts across Texas; and WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission recognized Stewart Title Company in 2007 with its Texas Treasure Business Award, an accolade that pays tribute to those enterprises that have been in continuous existence for at least half a century; and WHEREAS, Stewart Title Company has built an outstanding record over the course of its 120-year history, and it continues to play a vital role in the Lone Star State by stimulating economic growth, providing employment, and contributing to civic endeavors; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby honor Stewart Title Company as a Texas Treasure Business Award recipient and commend the company for the notable part it has played in advancing the development of the Lone Star State; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Stewart Title Company as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Menendez 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. 149 was adopted by the House on January 23, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House