H.R. No. 2062

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Members of the First United Methodist Church in
	Troup marked a milestone in their history with the celebration of
	the 100th anniversary of the dedication of their church building in
	2014; and
	WHEREAS, The Troup Methodist church traces its beginnings
	back to 1873, when a small group of Methodists began holding
	services beneath a large oak tree in the area; seven years later,
	church trustees bought a parcel of land on East Calvert Street from
	the Texas Land Company, and members soon erected a one-room
	sanctuary on the property; and
	WHEREAS, By 1912, the congregation had outgrown its modest
	building and planned to construct a more accommodating place of
	worship; the following year, the church received as a gift the deed
	to several lots of land, and its members held numerous fund-raisers
	and collected donations for a new building; the sanctuary was
	completed in early 1914, and congregants held its dedication
	service that Easter Sunday; and
	WHEREAS, The new church was praised as one of the most
	beautiful and modern in the area, and its spacious 500-seat
	sanctuary was enlisted to host music and civic events as well as the
	Texas Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church for several
	years; and
	WHEREAS, Over the ensuing decades, First United Methodist
	underwent a multitude of other renovations, including the addition
	of a fellowship hall and an education building; in 2013, the
	congregation commemorated its 130th anniversary with the
	dedication of a Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical
	Commission and the Smith County Historical Society; and
	WHEREAS, Numerous generations of area residents have looked
	to First United Methodist Church-Troup for spiritual enrichment and
	guidance, and its continued existence is a tribute to the
	unwavering commitment of its members, both past and present; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
	dedication of the First United Methodist Church building in Troup
	and extend to its clergy and congregation sincere best wishes for
	the future; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas
	House of Representatives.
	Hughes
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 2062 was adopted by the House on May
	21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House