H.R. No. 1326
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Willacy County are gathering at
the State Capitol on April 14, 2011, to celebrate Willacy County
Day, and this occasion provides a welcome opportunity to recognize
the 100th anniversary of the county's founding; and
WHEREAS, Located on the Gulf Coast in the Rio Grande Valley,
Willacy County was formed in 1911 from parts of Cameron and Hidalgo
Counties and also originally included the land that is now Kenedy
County; it was named for state legislator John G. Willacy, who
introduced the bill that established the county; and
WHEREAS, Raymondville, the county seat and largest city, was
established by Edward Burleson Raymond in 1904; it is home to the
Raymondville Historical Museum and hosts a number of special events
throughout the year, including the Willacy County Livestock Show, a
Fourth of July celebration, and the Christmas Tree Lighting
Ceremony and Christmas Parade; and
WHEREAS, Lyford is named for William H. Lyford, an attorney
for the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, and it rings in the
holiday season with the annual Lyford Christmas Parade and
Festival; farther east, the close-knit community of Santa Monica
celebrates the annual Santa Monica Fest during the fall to benefit
Santa Monica Catholic Church; and
WHEREAS, A number of other communities are also named for
prominent figures in the county's early history; Lasara was platted
in 1924 and was named for Laura Harding and Sarah Gill, wives of
early settlers William Harding and Lamar Gill, while San Perlita
takes its name from Pyrle Johnson, the wife of the town developer;
settled before 1906, Sebastian was first known as Stillman but was
renamed around 1912 in honor of John Sebastian, vice president of
the Rock Island Railroad Company, which helped to develop the area;
other notable communities in the county include Los Coyotes,
Porfirio, Port Mansfield, and Willamar; and
WHEREAS, Young people in the area benefit from the dedicated
efforts of the county's school districts, which include the
Raymondville Independent School District, with more than 2,200
students, the Lyford Consolidated Independent School District,
serving over 1,500 students, Lasara ISD, with an enrollment of
nearly 400, and San Perlita ISD, with approximately 300 pupils; and
WHEREAS, Willacy County residents are employed in a range of
private-sector and government jobs, and the county's proximity to
Mexico and six international bridges makes transportation and
commercial trade central components of the local economy; and
WHEREAS, Ecotourism and heritage tourism also generate
employment and income; Willacy County's ranchlands and coastal
habitats include a wide range of birds, mammals, wild grasses,
trees, butterflies, and other species; the county has a
well-developed hunting and fishing industry and is a premier
destination for those seeking to experience the outdoors; "Wild in
Willacy" is an annual event held the last week of October to promote
awareness of the area's diverse natural offerings and includes
tours of private ranches, lectures on birding, cook-offs, musical
entertainment, and more; and
WHEREAS, One of the hubs of tourism activity is Port
Mansfield, which has unique bird-watching opportunities and is an
extremely popular fishing center that hosts a well-known fishing
tournament each year; the town's harbor office is run by the Willacy
County Navigation District, which also oversees land leases and the
county's small-craft airport; and
WHEREAS, Willacy County's rich natural environment and its
resourceful and productive citizenry make it a great place to live
and work, and it is a pleasure to honor this South Texas county as it
reflects on a century of growth and progress; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 14, 2011, as Willacy County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an enjoyable and rewarding visit to Austin.
Lozano
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1326 was adopted by the House on April
14, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House