81R7289 MMS-D
By: Pena H.R. No. 277
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Members of the Texas House of Representatives are
pleased to join with a delegation of citizens from Edinburg in
celebrating Edinburg Day at the State Capitol on February 10, 2009;
and
WHEREAS, Established in the early 20th century and originally
known as Chapin, Edinburg became the seat of Hidalgo County in 1908;
though ranching initially formed the basis of the town's economy,
the arrival of the railroad in 1909 and irrigation in 1915 soon led
to an emphasis on the farming of cotton, grain, and citrus; in short
order, the town became a thriving center for agricultural marketing
and processing; and
WHEREAS, Long considered the gateway to the lower Rio Grande
Valley, Edinburg is now a dynamic community of approximately 70,000
people; in October 2008, throngs of residents commemorated the
town's centennial with a spirited, weeklong celebration, which
included the opening of the new city hall; and
WHEREAS, Edinburg offers a wide range of amenities that mark
it as a forward-looking city; the educational needs of area
students are capably met by the Edinburg Consolidated Independent
School District, which is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its
founding in 2009; encompassing 945 square miles, the district
includes 27 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools,
and an alternative campus; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1927 as Edinburg Junior College, The
University of Texas--Pan American remains one of the Valley's
premier institutions of higher learning; UTPA recently opened its
Wellness and Recreation Sports Complex, and the school is moving
forward with plans for the construction of a Fine Arts Center; the
center is expected to bring in significant revenue to the
university and the surrounding area and also to help draw
corporations and industry to South Texas; and
WHEREAS, Standing adjacent to UTPA is the Medical Research
Division of the Regional Academic Health Center, a part of The
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; the
Medical Research Division was dedicated in 2006 and will develop
treatments for illnesses prevalent along the Texas-Mexico border;
and
WHEREAS, Health care resources include the Edinburg
Children's Hospital, the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, and three
facilities that all opened in 2007--the Renaissance Behavioral
Center, the Cancer Center at Renaissance, and the Women's Hospital
at Renaissance; and
WHEREAS, The vibrant history and culture of the region are
highlighted by the Museum of South Texas History, where new
exhibits include 64 maps of Texas dating from 1548 to 2006, as well
as a centennial exhibit that explores the history of education,
government, civic life, and commerce in the city over the past 10
decades; as part of its 2003 expansion, the museum installed the
first two sections of a permanent exhibit titled "Rio Grande
Legacy," which presents the prehistory and history of the region
with bilingual text and state-of-the-art displays; currently under
development next to the museum is Will Looney Legacy Park, where
exhibits will show how earlier inhabitants of South Texas adapted
to the environment; and
WHEREAS, In June 2008, the local Boys and Girls Club, which
serves almost 20,000 children in Edinburg and nearby communities,
broke ground on a new, eco-friendly clubhouse; encompassing nearly
33,000 square feet, the building will sit on a 20-acre site that
will feature a track, soccer field, walking trail, and tennis and
basketball courts; and
WHEREAS, Other Edinburg attractions include the 40-acre
wetlands of the World Birding Center, the Texas Cook 'Em cook-off,
and the All-America City 10K Run/Walk, which draws runners from
throughout Texas and Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Mayor Joe Ochoa and city
council members Alma Garza, Noe Garza, Agustin Garcia, and Gene
Espinoza, Edinburg continues on the trajectory of steady growth and
improvement that has made it a three-time winner of the All-America
City award, given by the National Civic League; and
WHEREAS, Proud of their rich history, the people of Edinburg
are determined to preserve the best of the city's past while
building a future full of hope and opportunity; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2009, as Edinburg Day at
the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the delegation from
Edinburg.