HR79 - Recognizing the city of Palestine.

      H.R. No. 79       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the   89th Texas Legislature are pleased to recognize the city of   Palestine and to honor its residents for the important   contributions they are making to the Lone Star State; and          WHEREAS, In 1846, the first legislature of the State of Texas   established Anderson County, and a county seat was laid out at its   center on a 100-acre tract; it was named Palestine after a town in   Illinois, the previous home of early settlers; the town's early   prosperity derived from the shipment of agricultural goods down the   Trinity River; in 1875, the county gave a $150,000 bonus to the   International-Great Northern Railroad for locating its   headquarters in Palestine, and within five years, the town's   population doubled to more than 4,000; prominent citizens hired   such noted architects as Nicholas Clayton and Wesley Clark Dodson   to design numerous buildings that are now landmarks; and          WHEREAS, Palestine has continued to thrive as a   transportation and shipping hub, due to its favorable location on   major highways as well as the Union Pacific Railroad; in the 1980s,   Walmart built its first distribution center outside of Arkansas in   Palestine, and the retail giant added another center in 1994; the   city is also home to wholesale beverage and aerospace parts   distributors and a growing medical industry; nurturing a   well-educated workforce, it supports two colleges, Trinity Valley   Community College-Palestine and The University of Texas at Tyler   Palestine Campus; and          WHEREAS, A designated Texas Main Street City, Palestine draws   visitors with a magnificent architectural legacy of structures   dating from the early 19th to the mid-20th centuries, among them   many restored Victorian homes; it boasts more than 1,800 historic   sites, and the Texas State Railroad, the oldest heritage railway in   the state, offers both steam and diesel train excursions; in   addition, travelers flock to Palestine to marvel at the unique   beauty of the dogwood trees at Davey Dogwood Park, a 254-acre park   with eight miles of unincorporated hiking and biking trails and   scenic views; and          WHEREAS, Palestine has practiced careful stewardship of its   rich past and natural beauty while adapting to the changing demands   of modern commerce, and its residents may take justifiable pride in   the dynamic and beautiful place they call home; now, therefore, be   it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby recognize the city of Palestine and extend to   its citizens sincere best wishes for the future.     Harris     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 79 was adopted by the House on March   6, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House