TITLE: Recognizing April 5, 2017, as Austin County Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing April 5, 2017, as Austin County Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents are joining together to celebrate Austin County Day at the State Capitol on April 5, 2017; and WHEREAS, Situated between the Post Oak Savannah and the Coastal Prairie regions, the Austin County area became part of Stephen F. Austin's first colony in the early 1820s; the town of San Felipe de Austin was the administrative seat of the colony, and it played an important role in the Texas Revolution, hosting the conventions of 1832 and 1833 and briefly serving as the capital of the provisional government; and WHEREAS, Austin County was created by the Constitution of 1836 and was formally organized a year later; San Felipe was the county seat until 1848, when the county government was moved to the new community of Bellville; and WHEREAS, Blessed with an abundance of water, grassland, and forests, the county attracted settlers engaged in agriculture, and a number of towns grew substantially during the 19th century, including Bellville and Wallis and the railroad towns of Sealy and Kenney; German and Czech immigrants also arrived in Austin County, and their influence is felt throughout the region in the societies that they established and the many communities they founded; the cultural mosaic of the county has been further enriched by immigrants from Mexico, the largest foreign-born group to settle there in the 20th century, and by African Americans, who played a fundamental role in the county's development and in the creation of numerous social and religious institutions; and WHEREAS, Among the prominent Texans who have resided in Austin County was Gail Borden Jr., a surveyor and newspaper publisher who later invented a successful process for condensing milk; another early citizen, Robert Justus Kleberg, fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and held several prestigious public offices; and WHEREAS, Today, visitors and residents alike can explore the county's rich heritage, preserved at the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site and in rural communities throughout the area, and they enjoy hunting and fishing opportunities as well as a wealth of special recreational events; and WHEREAS, Honoring their history as they embrace the opportunities of the future, the citizens of Austin County may indeed take great pride in their unique contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize April 5, 2017, as Austin County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable event. Schubert Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1078 was adopted by the House on April 5, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House