Monitor Photo/Jody Vincik
Henderson County Commissioners’ Court proclaims April 21 as San Jacinto Day marking Texas’ independence from Mexico, including Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam (from left), Precinct 4 Commissioner Mark Richardson, University of Texas at Tyler History Senior Lecturer Dr. James Newsom, James George Chapter of The Sons of the Republic of Texas President Clayton Starr (holding proclamation), County Judge Wade McKinney, Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey and Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley.

HENDERSON COUNTY–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted April 18 to proclaim April 21 as San Jacinto Day in Henderson County, marking the 187th anniversary of Texas’ independence from Mexico.
The president of the Athens-based James George Chapter of The Sons of the Republic of Texas, Clayton Starr, read the proclamation before the court. Starr recounted that San Jacinto was the decisive 1836 battle led by Sam Houston in the war for Texas independence from Mexico.
Starr continued that the battle occurred in present-day Harris County, lasting 18 minutes and giving Texas its independence as a republic. Nine years later, Texas became the 28th state of the United States of America, Starr read from the proclamation.
University of Texas at Tyler History Senior Lecturer Dr. James Newsom recited a stirring account of events leading up to the Battle of San Jacinto. The professor said the story of San Jacinto began March 6, the day The Alamo fell in San Antonio and Mexican troops advanced eastward during the Runaway Scrape, which saw Texans picking up their belongings and fleeing toward the United States. That drive was stopped by Houston’s army – which had been in retreat mode – at San Jacinto, Newsom stated.
After the San Jacinto battle, Newsom said Santa Anna, the Mexican president and leader of its army, was captured near what’s now the Washburn Tunnel along Buffalo Bayou, the present-day Houston Ship Channel. Santa Anna’s escape disguised in a private’s uniform was given away when his men bowed and called him “His Excellency,” according to Newsom.
“On that day, the Republic of Texas was born,” Newsom said.
County Judge Wade McKinney remarked that the root of the Texas Revolution was when Santa Anna did away with the Mexican Constitution. Dr. Newsom said other Mexican states besides Texas rebelled against Mexico’s central government control, but Texas was the only one to gain independence.
“Thank you for keeping our Texas history alive here in Henderson County,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley told Starr and Dr. Newsom.
In other business, the court:
• Approved a building maintenance agreement with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission at 101 W. Baker St. in Athens, which McKinney said gives permission to update to LED light fixtures at the county-owned building.
• Approved a request from Keep Athens Beautiful for a partnership grant of $2,500 for electronics collections and tire recycling.
• Approved a list of items to be sold through an online auction with Auctioneers Express.
• Approved an infrastructure development site plan for Cristville RV Ranch & Storage, located in Precinct 3, which includes three variances from county rules.
• Approved a contract with Westlaw to upgrade the county’s law library.
• Approved an agreement with Government Capital Corp. to finance a wheeled excavator for Precinct 4.
• Approved right-of-way permits with Spectrum contractor Gulf Coast LLC to install aerial fiber-optic cabling along County Roads 1429, 1431 and 1432, located in Precinct 1, along Park Estates Road and County Roads 3900, 3902 and 3904, located in Precinct 2. andlong County Road 4402, located in Precinct 4.
• Approved the 2023 road materials bid process.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2023 bills in the amount of $690,634.24.