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.
Chavez
Pickett
Quintanilla
Moody
Marquez
Straus Gattis Menendez Straus Gattis Menendez
Straus Gattis Menendez
Allen Geren Merritt Allen Geren Merritt
Allen Geren Merritt
Alonzo Giddings Miklos Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anderson Guillen Moody Anderson Guillen Moody
Anderson Guillen Moody
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Berman Hamilton Naishtat Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Bohac Hancock Oliveira Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bonnen Harless Orr Bonnen Harless Orr
Bonnen Harless Orr
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr. Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Burnam Hernandez Patrick Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Button Herrero Paxton Button Herrero Paxton
Button Herrero Paxton
Callegari Hilderbran Pena Callegari Hilderbran Pena
Callegari Hilderbran Pena
Castro Hochberg Phillips Castro Hochberg Phillips
Castro Hochberg Phillips
Chavez Hodge Pickett Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chisum Homer Pierson Chisum Homer Pierson
Chisum Homer Pierson
Christian Hopson Pitts Christian Hopson Pitts
Christian Hopson Pitts
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Cook Hughes Riddle Cook Hughes Riddle
Cook Hughes Riddle
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Crabb Isett Ritter Crabb Isett Ritter
Crabb Isett Ritter
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Creighton Jones Rose Creighton Jones Rose
Creighton Jones Rose
Crownover Keffer Sheffield Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Darby Kent Shelton Darby Kent Shelton
Darby Kent Shelton
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Edwards Legler Thibaut Edwards Legler Thibaut
Edwards Legler Thibaut
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eissler Lewis Truitt Eissler Lewis Truitt
Eissler Lewis Truitt
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
England Madden Turner of Harris England Madden Turner of Harris
England Madden Turner of Harris
Farabee Maldonado Vaught Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Marquez Villarreal Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Fletcher Martinez Vo Fletcher Martinez Vo
Fletcher Martinez Vo
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flynn McCall Weber Flynn McCall Weber
Flynn McCall Weber
Frost McClendon Woolley Frost McClendon Woolley
Frost McClendon Woolley
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 448 was adopted by the House on
February 17, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Gattis Menendez
Allen Geren Merritt
Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anderson Guillen Moody
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bonnen Harless Orr
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Button Herrero Paxton
Callegari Hilderbran Pena
Castro Hochberg Phillips
Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chisum Homer Pierson
Christian Hopson Pitts
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Cook Hughes Riddle
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Crabb Isett Ritter
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Creighton Jones Rose
Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Darby Kent Shelton
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Edwards Legler Thibaut
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eissler Lewis Truitt
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
England Madden Turner of Harris
Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Fletcher Martinez Vo
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flynn McCall Weber
Frost McClendon Woolley
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas