A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the founders of the town of coats on the occasion of the town's 100th anniversary.
Whereas, the Town of Coats was incorporated on March 4, 1905; and
Whereas, the Town of Coats is named for the late James Thomas Coats, also known as, Elder Tom, who purchased 706 acres of land from heirs of Daniel I. and Sarah Shaw; and
Whereas, Elder Tom Coats gave a right-of-way and land for a depot to the Cape Fear and Northern Railroad in 1902, and thereafter recruited Romelus Lambert to survey and lay out a town around the depot that was to be 250 acres; and
Whereas, J.K. Stewart was appointed as the first mayor of the town in 1905 and P.F. Pope followed as the first elected mayor later that year; and
Whereas, Elder Tom Coats built the first church in the town, Gift Primitive Baptist Church, in 1909 and became the first pastor; and
Whereas, the Coats Brick Mill manufactured brick for the first 13 brick buildings in town by 1913; and
Whereas, the first brick school building was built in the town in 1920; and
Whereas, Coats native, the late Alton Stewart, was the first licensed pilot in North Carolina and had his license signed by Orville Wright on April 6, 1926; and
Whereas, Mrs. Addie Lee Stancil Parrish, a resident of Coats, and the last Confederate widow living in Harnett County died August 20, 1979; and
Whereas, Coats High School consolidated with Erwin and Dunn High Schools in 1985 and a celebration of the closing of the old school, known as the Coats High School Reunion Project, drew in excess of 5,000 people; and
Whereas, a group of Coats citizens salvaged an old two-room schoolhouse and converted it to a Coats History Museum in 1995; and
Whereas, Coats will mark its Centennial on March 4, 2005, and will dedicate a Cotton Planting Museum among other planned celebrations; and
Whereas, the 2,000 citizens of Coats are hardworking, hospitable people who are proud of their past and look forward to their future; and
Whereas, the centennial anniversary of the Town of Coats is worthy of celebration; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly wishes to honor the memory of the founders and early residents of the Town of Coats for their contributions to North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly congratulates the Town of Coats on its 100th anniversary and encourages the people of this State to join the citizens of Coats in celebrating this historic occasion.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Mayor of the Town of Coats.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.