[dropcap]B[/dropcap]ecause 200 candles would be too many to place on a cake, Hays County officials last week instead opted to pass a proclamation celebrating the bicentennial birthday of the county’s namesake.

The court, joined by members of the Hays County Historical Commission, celebrated Col. John “Jack” Coffee Hays week Jan. 28, which was Hays’ 200th birthday, according to a release.

Jack C. Hays

“We’re honored to be named after one of the most famous Texa...