83R4753 LB-D
By: Lozano H.R. No. 259
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Citizens of Jim Wells County are assembling at the
State Capitol on February 12, 2013, to celebrate the importance of
their home to the history of the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, A landscape of sweeping grasslands and wide
horizons, the county's early inhabitants, the Chaguane and Payuguan
tribes, enjoyed the region's mild winters and abundant game; after
the first European settlement in 1754, at Penitas Creek, Mexican
ranchers developed land grants into sheep and cattle ranches; in
1848 the region became part of the State of Texas, and it was
formally incorporated as a county in 1911 and named after the
prominent politician James B. Wells, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, With the arrival of the railroad in the 1870s,
county seat Alice became the most important livestock shipment
junction in South Texas, and ranching has remained a mainstay of the
county's economy ever since; cotton and sorghum are important
crops, as are hay, corn, and wheat; it is a center for health care,
with an outstanding medical facility, the CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital
Alice, and since the discovery of oil in 1931, it has become one of
the state's leaders in oil production; and
WHEREAS, The Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame in Alice honors
Tejano culture and recognizes the region as the birthplace of this
popular musical genre; area culture is further showcased at the
South Texas Museum, housed in the historic McGill Brothers Building
in Alice, and the annual Fiesta Bandana, celebrating Cinco de Mayo,
is a highlight of the county's cultural calendar; and
WHEREAS, The hardworking and forward-looking citizens of Jim
Wells County are building on a long tradition of industry,
achievements, and public spirit, and they are indeed worthy of
special recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 12, 2013, as Jim Wells County
Day at the State Capitol and extend to its citizens sincere best
wishes for a memorable visit to Austin.