TEXAS

On this date in 1836, Sam Houston was inaugurated President of the Republic of Texas. For nine years, Texas was an independent country. Its boundaries included all of the current state plus parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado.

The first Secretary of State of the Republic was Stephen F. Austin. Austin died just two months after Texas became a republic. He is sometimes called the "Father of Texas."

The first permanent capital of the Republic was Houston. In 1839, it was moved to a small settlement on the Colorado River called Waterloo. A year later, the name of the capital city was changed to Austin.

In 1845, with the urging of Sam Houston, Texas agreed to be annexed by the United States. The state doesn't have an official motto as far as I can tell. I think they should use the one from the song ... "Don't mess with Texas"
:oP