TITLE: Recognizing February 7, 2017, as Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 7, 2017, as Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Public-spirited citizens of Matagorda County are gathering in Austin to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol on February 7, 2017; and WHEREAS, Taking its name from the Spanish phrase meaning "thick brush," this region of prairie, salt marshes, and coastal waterways was visited by the French explorer La Salle in 1685; the area constituted part of Stephen F. Austin's first colony, and settlers began arriving through Matagorda Bay during the winter of 1821-1822; in 1829, the town of Matagorda was established as a military post, and in 1836, Matagorda County became one of the original 23 counties of the Republic of Texas; and WHEREAS, Matagorda ranked as the second-largest seaport in Texas for a time and served as a shipping point for cotton, sugar, and livestock raised in the county; when the boll weevil endangered the cotton crop in the early 20th century, farmers began to grow rice, and the discovery of oil and sulfur further diversified the county's economy; and WHEREAS, Ranching, farming, and petroleum remain important, and the county also benefits from the presence of the South Texas Project nuclear plant, which generates enough electricity to power approximately two million homes in Texas; Bay City, the county seat, is a center of the petrochemical industry and recently became the home of TenarisBayCity, an international pipe manufacturing company, while the port at Palacios is home to the largest fishing fleet on the Texas Gulf Coast; and WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the county's fine beaches and its many opportunities for fishing and water sports, while birders from across the nation are drawn to the Mad Island Marsh Preserve and Wildlife Management Area; Bay City is the location of several major annual attractions--the annual county fair, livestock show, and rodeo, which take place in the early spring, and the Rice Festival, which is held in the fall; in between those dates, Palacios hosts the Texas Fishermen's Seafood Festival, in December, and a reenactment of La Salle's landing every Fourth of July; and WHEREAS, Matagorda County is an area of abundant natural resources and rich history, and its residents may take great pride in their notable heritage as they look forward to a future filled with promise; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin. Bonnen of Brazoria 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. 281 was adopted by the House on February 7, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House