81R6004 JNC-D
By: Gonzales H.R. No. 229
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of the city of McAllen are gathering at
the State Capitol on February 10, 2009, to celebrate their
community's contributions to the vitality of the Lone Star State;
and
WHEREAS, Located in southern Hidalgo County, the site of
present-day McAllen was developed by Spanish settler Jose Manuel
Gomez, who founded the Santa Anita Ranch in 1797; the ranch grew in
size and passed through the hands of several heirs of his
great-granddaughter, Salome Balli, who married John McAllen;
together they continued to add to the property and renamed it
McAllen Ranch; and
WHEREAS, In 1904, Mr. McAllen and other early settlers
established a town site called West McAllen, where the St. Louis,
Brownsville & Mexico Railroad arrived a year later; additional
developers founded East McAllen in 1907, and the two towns
eventually merged and welcomed several businesses, churches, and
residences and a newspaper; by 1920, the city's population exceeded
5,000 and continued to grow steadily; and
WHEREAS, In the last three decades, McAllen has become a
center for business, commerce, and government in the Valley; ranked
number one in the nation in job growth in 2008, McAllen has the
strongest housing market in the country, according to Forbes
magazine, and it was named the number-one fastest-growing real
estate market in the country by CNNMoney.com; in addition, the city
is home to South Texas College, one of the fastest-growing
community colleges in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The unique landscape of the Rio Grande Valley
provides promising soil for farming and produces a hospitable
environment for cultivating citrus fruits, cotton, sugarcane, and
many other crops and vegetables; a variety of ecosystems also
nurtures many unusual flora and fauna specific to this region of the
country; and
WHEREAS, A center for cultural activities, McAllen is home to
the International Museum of Art and Science, which serves as a
showcase for traveling exhibitors, loaned works from the
Smithsonian Institution, and an extensive collection of Latin
American folk art; tourists and residents alike enjoy festive
annual events, including the Candlelight Posada, the Fourth of July
Celebration and Parade, Palmfest Fajita Cook-off, International
Friendship Run, and McAllen New Year's Eve Celebration; and
WHEREAS, Led by Mayor Richard Cortez, District 1 Council
Member Scott Crane, District 2 Council Member Marcus Barrera,
District 3 Council Member Hilda Salinas, District 4 Council Member
Aida Ramirez, District 5 Council Member John Ingram, and District 6
Council Member James "Jim" Darling, the citizens of McAllen are
justifiably proud of their city, which has played a significant
role in the annals of Texas history, and it is a pleasure to pay
tribute to them on this special day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2009, as McAllen Day at
the State Capitol and extend to all those McAllen residents who are
present on this day sincere best wishes for a memorable visit to
Austin.