HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 22467: SEEKING OFFICIAL DESIGNATION FOR PORT ARTHUR AS CAJUN CAPITAL OF TEXAS P.R. No. 22467
03/22/2022
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SEEKING OFFICIAL
DESIGNATION AS CAJUN CAPITAL OF TEXAS
WHEREAS, Port Arthur, Texas welcomed an influx of people beginning in 1927
seeking refinery work in the city after agricultural flooding in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the people called Cajuns found a new home; and
WHEREAS, Port Arthur's coastal economy and appetite is fueled by the shrimping
industry, and serving and sales of Cajun delicacies such as crawfish, gumbo and boudain
bring joy to restauranteurs, shopkeepers, residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, residents have been two-stepping and toe-tapping for generations to
Cajun, Zydeco and Creole music, including that from Harry Choates, called "Godfather of
Cajun Music' and "The Fiddle King of Cajun Swing" and Choates lived in and is buried in
Port Arthur, and his 1946 recording of"Jolie Blon" is considered iconic; and
WHEREAS, the Cajuns, those descended from Acadian immigrants from Nova
Scotia who settled in Louisiana, and those who came to love the Lone Star State of Texas,
Port Arthur in particular, and set their hearts to work in fields, refineries and myriad
occupations, also have had a heart to celebrate good family times with events from Mardi
Gras of Southeast Texas — founded in Port Arthur and first celebrated in 1993 - to Cajun
Heritage Festival in Port Arthur, as well as a history of fais do house parties as well as
family style Cajun dancing at the historic Rodair Club as well as Larry's French Market and
Cajun Cafeteria, and their desire to "laissez les bon temps rouler," or"let the good times
roll"; and
WHEREAS, the lowly washboard patented in 1833 and sometimes used as a
percussive instrument, reached international status in Cajun Zydeco music, fused with
Creole music; and as Clifton Chenier designed and metalworker Willie Landry designed the
wearable frottoir in 1946 during the time they worked at Port Arthur's Texaco Refinery; and
this wearable board frottior, (FWA-TWAH) meaning "to rub" in French, is considered one
of the few musical instruments invented entirely in the United States; and Chenier received
a Grammy for his music and his brother, Cleveland, commenced to creating music on these
boards using bottle openers; and
WHEREAS, the rich and reedy notes of the accordion are known to waft from
dance halls, crawfish boils and back porches, with many of these instruments made by local
Jude Moreau; and
WHEREAS, the fishing village of Sabine Pass,just beside Port Arthur, was the home
of world-class restaurant"Granger's Seafood"founded and operated from 1927 until it was
destroyed by fire in 1958; and Granger's was recommended by noted restaurant critic
Duncan Hines and invented such iconic dishes as its often copied "bar-be-que crabs"and
their stuffed crabs that were so wonderful they are still revered by the local Cajun folk
today; and
WHEREAS, in the deep darkness of the era known as Prohibition, on the back ridge
of the Port Arthur suburb called Sabine Pass, Cajun extraordinaire and whiskey smith Jack
LaBove would emerge to bring light into the darkness by establishing two historic
distilleries to produce his much sought-after libations that were hailed as "the best corn
and rye whiskeys in the region"; and
WHEREAS, former State Senator Carl A. Parker introduced Port Arthur Days in
Austin, with Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce members and Cajuns gathering at
the capitol, and proposed Jim Braud and A.J. Judice as Crawfish Racing Commissioners,
and that the days grew into ever-larger events dubbed Golden Triangle Days in Austin; and
WHEREAS, Port Arthur supporters and Allie and Ellie Gator themselves have for
years have filled the capitol with fiddle music, Esther Benoit's legendary gumbo from
Esther's Seafood, the famous restaurant open for decades under the towering Rainbow
Bridge, and Cajun esprit de corps during Golden Triangle Days in Austin in support of
legislative action to benefit our community; and
WHEREAS, personalities including A.J. Judice, "The Crazy Frenchman" became
ambassadors of Cajun Culture; and Judice's mother, Lariza "Maw Maw"Judice and family
opened Judice's French Market in 1927 in their single car garage becoming the first store in
Texas to sell life crawfish and hot boudain, and other seafood said to have "slept in the
Gulf last night"and extended family operated Judice's French Market in nearby Groves; and
the family is credited with making crawfish season as popular as football season in Port
Arthur; and Texas Gov. Preston Smith appointed him as Texas Crawfish Racing
Commissioner; and
WHEREAS, Port Arthur's coastal marshes and wetlands provide a home one of the
state's highest concentration of alligators to sun themselves, and these wetlands are a
bridge away, connecting Jefferson County, Texas to Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the heritage of this culture's early life in the area is displayed with an
Acadian home display at Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur and in our neighboring
towns of Nederland, via La Maison Acadienne in Nederland in Port Neches, at La Maison
Beausoliel; and
WHEREAS, Port Arthur is a city of diverse cultures, each celebrating their own
proud identity, and that these cultures continue to include the "bon ami" or"good friend"
welcoming relationship of the Cajun culture to all residents and visitors as they"laissez les
bons temps rouler," or"let the good times roll".
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PORT ARTHUR:
THAT, the facts, and opinions in the preamble are true and correct.
THAT, the City Council of the City of Port Arthur hereby approves the seeking of the
designation of Port Arthur, Texas as The Cajun Capital of Texas, through the Texas
Legislature, which will next convene in 2023.
THAT, this designation reflects the pride and history of the Cajun people who have
made Port Arthur their home.
THAT, a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Texas Legislature for
consideration.
THAT, a copy of the caption of this Resolution shall be spread upon the Minutes of
the City Council.
READ,ADOPTED,AND APPROVED,this day of , 2022 AD,
at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas by the following
vote: AYES:
Mayor: ,
Councilmembers: ,
NOES:
Thurman Barite, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherri Bellard, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Valecia R. T zlinatalt_i &kali 03
eno, City Attorney
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
Ron Burton, City Manager