82R13016 RYA-D
By: Pena H.R. No. 771
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Edinburg are gathering in Austin
on March 8, 2011, to celebrate Edinburg Day at the State Capitol;
and
WHEREAS, A vibrant, growing community, Edinburg has
approximately 77,000 residents, making it the third-largest city in
the Rio Grande Valley; it is the county seat of Hidalgo County and
serves as an important educational and commercial center for the
booming Texas-Mexico border region; and
WHEREAS, Founded on October 10, 1908, the town was known as
Chapin until 1911, when it adopted the name Edinburg; ranching
formed the basis of its economy until the arrival of the railroad in
1909 and irrigation in 1915, changes that spurred a transition to
farming and agricultural processing and marketing; the city
incorporated on September 19, 1919; and
WHEREAS, Edinburg is a forward-looking, pro-business
community that is committed to job creation and sustainable
economic growth; it is a three-time winner of the All-America City
Award, which is given by the National Civic League to recognize
communities that have come up with innovative strategies to meet
their challenges; and
WHEREAS, The educational needs of more than 33,000 area
students are capably met by the Edinburg Consolidated Independent
School District, which celebrated its centennial in 2009; the
district comprises 30 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high
schools, a dropout recovery school called the Vision Academy of
Excellence, and an alternative campus; and
WHEREAS, The University of Texas-Pan American, which was
founded in 1927 as Edinburg Junior College, remains one of the
Valley's premier institutions of higher learning; its seven
colleges offer approximately 120 degree programs: 57 master's, 56
bachelor's, 3 doctoral, and 2 collaborative doctoral degrees; in
the past decade, graduation rates for undergraduates have doubled;
and
WHEREAS, The Regional Academic Health Center includes The
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio research
campus in Edinburg, an educational campus in Harlingen, and a
public health campus in Brownsville; and
WHEREAS, Edinburg has established a first-class network of
public and private health assets that form the Edinburg Medical
Corridor; this health industry sector, which includes major
hospital systems, employs thousands of medical professionals and
features the latest medical technology; and
WHEREAS, The vibrant history of the region is preserved by
the Museum of South Texas History; the museum's recent expansion
includes the installation of the world-class Rio Grande Legacy
exhibit, tracing the history of the Valley from prehistoric times
to the 20th century, and the construction of the Will Looney Legacy
Park; and
WHEREAS, Edinburg's dynamic business climate led to record
sales tax figures in 2010 and attracted major employers, such as the
Santana Textiles denim manufacturing plant and the Rio Grande
Valley Produce park, both under construction; and
WHEREAS, Often called the gateway to the Rio Grande Valley,
Edinburg is under the leadership of Mayor Richard H. Garcia, Mayor
Pro Tem Agustin "Gus" Garcia, and city council members Noe Garza,
Gene Espinoza, and Alma Garza; it is a dynamic city with a bright
future, and its hardworking citizens can take justifiable pride in
their accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 8, 2011, as Edinburg Day at the
State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to all those in
attendance for an enjoyable visit to Austin.