[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TYLER COUNTY DOGWOOD FESTIVAL

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                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 10, 2018

  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th 
anniversary of the Tyler County Dogwood Festival.
   Since 1940, Tyler Countians have paid tribute to the glories of 
spring and the lovely dogwood tree by creating each year a growing and 
more beautiful Dogwood Festival. In 1938, Judge James E. Wheat, 
founding father of the Dogwood Festival, called a meeting of the 
state's leading officials near the Polk and Tyler County line in hopes 
of enlisting help in promoting the completion of U.S. Highway 190. The 
men and women that attended the meeting were so impressed with the 
beauty of East Texas that Judge Wheat came upon the idea of creating an 
annual event that would focus attention on the area and bring people to 
see it. The first festival was held on April 6, 1940 with nearly 300 
people in attendance.
   The second festival, held in 1941, was first to introduce a pageant 
with a historical theme. Each pageant is still given a theme to this 
day. There were no festivals during the years of World War II, 1942 
through 1945. The third festival was held in 1946 and they have 
continued to be held on the first Saturday in April.
   Over the decades, the Dogwood Festival has grown and expanded 
bringing several thousand visitors from across Texas and out of state 
to help East Texans celebrate springtime. Due to the increasing number 
of horseback riders who were coming to the county seat of Woodville, TX 
to join in the Dogwood parade, it was decided they would have a weekend 
of their own. The first Tyler County Dogwood Festival Western Weekend 
was held on March 23, 1968. Thousands of trail riders travel to 
Woodville on horseback and wagon to participate in Western Weekend and 
strive to preserve the heritage of the East Texas cowboy. Eventually, 
Western Weekend expanded to include a rodeo and western dance.
   The Dogwood Festival has been a proud tradition for Tyler County for 
over half a century. The focus has always been on preserving the 
history and heritage of Tyler County while paying tribute to the 
natural beauty East Texas has to offer. I am proud to call this county 
my home and am excited to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Tyler 
County Dogwood Festival with its 2018 festival, ``Diamonds and 
Dogwoods--75 Years of Memories''.

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