A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the early settlers of lee county on the county's one HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.
Whereas, Lee County was formed from Chatham and Moore counties and named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee; and
Whereas, Lee County was created on March 6, 1907, by the General Assembly through legislation that required approval of the voters; and
Whereas, on July 2, 1907, a majority of the voters gave their approval for the establishment of the State's 98th county; and
Whereas, on February 10, 1908, Governor Robert Broadnax Glenn appointed J. L. Godfrey, J. F. Womble, J. F. Jones, J. R. Jones, and J. J. Edwards, who served as Chair, to the Lee County Board of Commissioners; and
Whereas, the County's early inhabitants included Native Americans and people from many countries and nationalities, including Highland Scots, Germans, English, Africans, and Scotch‑Irish; and
Whereas, Lee County's early economy centered on agriculture, naval stores, and iron works, which supplied the State with necessary iron goods during the American Revolution; and
Whereas, in 1853, coal was discovered in the Egypt community (now Comnock), and in 1855, the Egypt Mine opened as the State's first commercial coal mine; and
Whereas, expansion of the railroad in the area further contributed to the County's growth and aided in the establishment of new industries, including tobacco harvesting, brownstone quarrying, furniture making, brickworks, and textiles; and
Whereas, some of Lee County's notable citizens have included Reverend William D. Paisley, a Presbyterian minister; Herman Husband, a pioneer and leader in the Regulator Movement; Charles D. McIver, an educator and the first president of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and A.A.F. Seawell, who served as North Carolina's Attorney General and as a State Supreme Court justice during the 1930s; and
Whereas, Lee County has continued to grow and flourish, making significant contributions to the State of North Carolina; and
Whereas, according to the 2000 census, Lee County had a population of 50,000, a significant increase above the 2,262 residents recorded in 1910; and
Whereas, plans have been made to celebrate the County's anniversary throughout 2007, including a Centennial Celebration on July 2, 2007; and
Whereas, the County's anniversary is worthy of celebration and should be enjoyed and supported by all North Carolinians; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the early settlers of Lee County for their contributions to North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly congratulates Lee County on its 100th anniversary and encourages the people of this State to join the citizens of Lee County in celebrating this historic occasion.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Chair of the Lee County Board of Commissioners.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.