H.R. No. 31 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The city of Gonzales is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its founding in 2025; and WHEREAS, Located at the confluence of the Guadalupe and San Marcos Rivers, Gonzales was surveyed by James Kerr as the capital of DeWitt's colony in 1825 and was named after Rafael Gonzales, governor of Coahuila and Texas; the Battle of Gonzales, a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution, took place in October 1835 after Mexican dragoons attempted to retrieve the legendary "Come and Take It" cannon that had been loaned to the town for its protection; subsequently, news arrived of the defeat at the Battle of the Alamo, and Sam Houston, who was in Gonzales attempting to organize the Texas army, had the town burned and ordered a retreat; following independence, Gonzales County was established as part of the Republic of Texas, but with many former citizens of the town remaining in exile, the city council did not have its first meeting until 1839; Gonzales was rebuilt over the following decades, and by 1880, it boasted six churches, daily mail service, four schools, a courthouse, a 500-seat opera house, a library, gas and water works, and a population of 2,900 residents; and WHEREAS, Gonzales flourished in the late 19th century as a center for shipping cotton, wool, hides, cattle, horses, cottonseed, and pecans, and poultry farming later became integral to the local economy; today, Gonzales is home to more than 7,000 people; residents and visitors alike enjoy such attractions as the Gonzales Memorial Museum, which houses a collection of historical artifacts and weapons, and the Come and Take It Celebration, an annual festival that serves as a tribute to the firing of the first shot of the Texas Revolution; and WHEREAS, The citizens of Gonzales take great pride in the city's heritage while building for a bright future, and it is a pleasure to honor their important contributions to the story of the Lone Star State as they mark this notable milestone; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commemorate the bicentennial of Gonzales and extend to its residents sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable celebration. Schoolcraft ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 31 was adopted by the House on August 27, 2025, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House