Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 (Agenda)
Item 4
4.
approve proclamation declaring Friday, October 21, 2011 as "Travis County history day." should I read the proclamation.
>> yes, please, judge.
>> it reads whereas around one thousand individuals have served as Travis County elected officials since our county's establishment in 1840, whereas these elected officials have provided valuable services to the citizens of Austin and Travis County.
and have helped shape our rich history.
whereas the contributions of these individuals are to be commemorated and celebrated, whereas our history provides valuable insight into our heritage and ancestry and facilities and -- and facilitates an outstanding and deep appreciation of the prosperous community in which we reside today, whereas Travis County seeks to provide continued opportunities to learn about and celebrate our distinguished past by and through preserving, commemorating and celebrating our valuable historic heritage.
now there ever the Travis County Commissioners court here by proclaims October 21st, 2011 as Travis County history day and encourages its citizens to celebrate the proud history and heritage of Travis County, Texas and I move approval.
>> second.
>> good afternoon, I'm steven brobert, director of communication resources, I have the happy privilege of introducing christie or archivist who is going to say a few words and I'll wrap up after she gives her presentation.
>> I would like to invite everybody to our fourth annual Travis County history day, this Friday, October 21st, from 10:00 in the morning until noon.
it will be at 700 lavaca on the first floor and hopefully some of the posters that have been hanging up in the county buildings and around town.
elected officials are very important part of our history.
as the theme for this year's history day, we will be commemorating and celebrating the contributions of all past and present county elected officials.
we are very excited for this year's event.
our committee has been very hard at work, we do anticipate a very good turnout.
thanks to the effort of the committee, as well as contributions from past and present officials, their family members, the public, local archives, we've gathered around 300 photographs of elected officials throughout our history.
so those will be on display.
they are very interesting.
we also have some of our earliest election records dating from 1840, as well as a list of every elected official in Travis County history.
this list has taken a good deal of effort and time to compile and there are about 1,000 names and 20 different offices.
there will be a short program beginning at 10:15, judge Biscoe will be our master of ceremonies, we have two special speakers, duane holman formerly of the Texas association of counties and judge bob perkins, one of our longest serving judges in Travis County history.
I do invite everybody to come out.
it will be a great event.
it's also a great opportunity to view the space that will be used at the courtroom in the future, we will also be unveiling a new historical brochure.
please join us.
>> judge, I saw the list of the elected officials going back to the early days.
it's real interesting, there were constables and then they became Commissioners.
so we're still doing that today, you know, that's great.
however, in -- I think I was the first female constable in 1980 in Travis County and certainly in precinct 4.
but it's a really interesting list to see and where we've been and how people have moved around and oh, and then redistricting.
it was real obvious that redistricting took place in 1970 as we had people from all over the county serving as Commissioners of different areas and, you know, there was no rhyme or reason to it.
but it's very, very interesting --
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> not those, no.
and -- it's all very, very interesting how the development of Travis County came about.
and the people who led us there.
so I'm looking forward to this.
>> did any records management people ever become elected officials.
>> there might have been.
>> judge!
>> [laughter]
>> there might have been.
>> always leave the door open, steve.
>> [laughter] there will be food and refreshments.
>> there will be.
>> not purchased with public money.
>> indeed.
>> let's explain that.
>> well, we have people to thank in that regard and --
>> was that part of yours.
>> it was, judge.
all of us in our professional and personal lives have to work with committees.
and oftentimes it's not the most -- most favorite parts of our duties.
but I would like to say that the committee for Travis County history day is -- is a joyous group of people and they work very hard, now they are volunteering and I would like to submit their names to the record.
from our own department, rmcr, christie moyland and shaun may loan, we have an intern, from constable five bruce elfant's office, leslie pool, absolutely invaluable.
from dana debeauvoir's office, jillian, robert, jane smith.
from district clerk's office, meghan north who is their archivist.
from its, chris stangland, from fmd, kimberly gentleman mail, barry hutchinson, nancy hamilton, margie alford.
that leaves us lastly to our sponsors for the event allowing Travis County not to spend money on refreshments, we have the Austin bar association.
and in addition to that, we have Travis County archives and Travis County historical commission.
and we really hope that -- we're already anticipating a pretty big crowd for this event.
so we hope everyone will come early5 and it's also going to be a great opportunity for us to get reacquainted with -- with past elected officials as well as present officials and we're hoping that we'll use this as an opportunity as well for -- for all of these officials to consider placing their papers in the Travis County archives.
and we really appreciate y'all's help as well.
well, thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> we all do.
>> let's see if we can get our county judge to move the program along.
>> yeah.
>> we're hoping that's part of your job, judge.
>> any more discussion?
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> is mr. Reeferseed invited too?
>> yes.
>> special invitation, mr. Reeferseed.
>> 700 lavaca, is that right?
thank you.
whenever running for office, always pick up whatever is done for you, okay?
thank you.
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