Texas First Lady to Tour 2003 Main Street Cities

Texas First Lady Anita Perry will join Texas Historical Commision (THC) members and staff for the Texas Main Street Program's 2003 First Lady Tour. The tour celebrates the designation of the 2003 Official Texas Main Street Cities, in Luling, Llano and Van Horn on March 20 and Clarksville and Winnsboro on March 24.

"Growing up in a small town, I know the vital role downtown plays in a community," said Perry. "Being a Main Street City means citizens recognize that downtown still is the heart and soul of a town."

Mrs. Perry will give the keynote address at each celebration and unveil the first architectural rendering for the downtown renovation. A reception follows a tour of the city's downtown area. The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) sponsors the tour.

Accompanying Mrs. Perry will be Larry Oaks, THC executive director; Terry Colley, THC deputy director; MaryAlice Torres - MacDonald, Community Heritage Development Division director; Kay Harvey - Mosley, Texas Main Street Program director; IBAT representatives and members of the THC.

"Through the years, the First Lady's Tour has become a traditional honor for the new Main Street cities," said Oaks. "The tour shines a spotlight on our cities as they begin a program that will have a positive long-term impact on their communities."

The THC's Texas Main Street Program is a revitalization program for downtown and neighborhood commerical districts. Implemented in 1981, the program has assisted more than 140 communities throughout the state and is one of the most successful in the nation.

The Texas Historical Commision is the state agency for historic preservation. The agency administers a variety of programs to preserve the archeological, historical, and cultural resources of Texas.