81R8490 JGH-D
By: Chavez H.R. No. 448
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of El Paso are gathering at the
State Capitol on February 17, 2009, to celebrate El Paso Day, and
the event provides a perfect occasion to recognize the dynamism of
this great Texas city; and
WHEREAS, Anchoring the far west corner of the state, where
the United States and Mexico come together, El Paso boasts a
colorful history informed by the mingling of many cultures and
customs, each of which has contributed greatly to the city's status
as a thriving international metropolis; and
WHEREAS, Native Americans dwelt for centuries in this harsh
desert beside the Rio Grande; in 1581, members of the
Rodriguez-Sanchez expedition named a pass between two mountain
ranges El Paso del Norte, and the first permanent Spanish colony was
founded near present-day San Elizario by Juan de Onate in 1598; and
WHEREAS, For the next two centuries, El Paso remained part of
the Spanish empire, and then, after 1821, part of Mexico; the
complex community of Europeans, mestizos, and Indians along the Rio
Grande became an important junction on the Camino Real; and
WHEREAS, After the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848,
El Paso became a part of the United States, leading to the growth of
Anglo settlements along the north bank of the Rio Grande and laying
the foundations for the multicultural character of the city; and
WHEREAS, El Paso welcomed the arrival of the railroad in
1881, and within a decade, a dusty village of some 700 inhabitants
was transformed into a western boomtown of more than 10,000; during
this tumultuous era, El Paso was known as the "Six Shooter Capital,"
a place teeming with cattlemen, gamblers, and gunfighters,
including such famous figures as lawman Pat Garrett and outlaw John
Wesley Hardin; and
WHEREAS, By the early 20th century, reform-minded citizens
had curbed much of El Paso's wildness; over 77,000 individuals
called El Paso home by 1925, and the metropolitan area now has about
700,000 residents; its proximity to Ciudad Juarez, its sister city
across the Rio Grande, gives the two cities the distinction of being
one of the largest population centers on any international border
in the world; and
WHEREAS, For more than a century, the presence of Fort Bliss
has contributed to the city's proud military tradition and vibrant
economy; today, El Paso is the focal point of an annual $50 billion
in trade between the United States and Mexico; long known as the
home of such famous brands as Tony Lama Boots, El Paso's diverse
economy includes agriculture, textiles, tourism, the manufacture
of cement and other building materials, and the refining of metals
and petroleum; and
WHEREAS, The 1966 Texas Western College basketball team,
featuring the first-ever all-black starting lineup in college
athletic history and led by the legendary Coach Don "The Bear"
Haskins, won the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball
Championship; their achievement helped to break down racial
barriers in sports and inspired the movie Glory Road; and
WHEREAS, The city provides myriad opportunities for higher
education through The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso
Community College, and the El Paso campus of Howard Payne
University; further bolstering the city's appeal are such cultural
attractions as the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Symphony
Orchestra, the El Paso Museum of History, and the Fort Bliss Museum,
as well as two professional sporting teams, the El Paso Diablos
baseball team and the El Paso Patriots soccer team; and
WHEREAS, This lively city has been the birthplace and home of
many remarkable Americans, including Supreme Court justice Sandra
Day O'Connor, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Tonight Show
producer Rudy Tellez, artist and muralist Tom Lea, actors Gilbert
Roland, Debbie Reynolds, Thomas Haden Church, and Academy Award
winner F. Murray Abraham, singers Phil Ochs, Bobby Fuller, and
Florencia Bisenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona, better known as
Vikki Carr, disc jockey Steve Crosno, and rock bands At the
Drive-In, Sparta, and Grammy Award winner The Mars Volta; and
WHEREAS, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, settled by members of the
Tigua tribe, is considered the oldest community in Texas; its
tribal council is the oldest ongoing governmental entity in the
state and has been recognized by Spain, Mexico, and the United
States; the tribe has established itself as an important
contributor to the economy of El Paso, owning and operating tribal
businesses that benefit its members, its business partners, and
area citizens; and
WHEREAS, Living in a dramatic setting, where urban energy
meets the severe beauty of the desert, the citizens of El Paso may
take great pride in the knowledge that their community has
contributed immeasurably to the vitality of the Lone Star State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 17, 2009, as El Paso Day at
the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable visit to Austin.