H.R. No. 626 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, A number of proud West Texas citizens are gathering in Austin on February 27, 2013, to celebrate Hudspeth County Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Created out of El Paso County in 1917, Hudspeth County covers more than 4,500 square miles of the vast Chihuahuan Desert, and residents enjoy the area's great natural beauty, sweeping vistas, and friendly, close-knit communities; and WHEREAS, Numerous archeological sites in the county attest to the presence of farmers and hunter-gatherers in prehistoric times, and missionaries and soldiers from northern New Spain traversed the area as early as 1581; in 1849, John S. "Rip" Ford and Major Robert S. Neighbors charted a trail that would be used by many adventurers on their way to the California gold fields; Fort Quitman was established in 1858 on the Rio Grande, in the southern part of the present-day county, to protect travelers and mail coaches en route between San Antonio and El Paso; and WHEREAS, In 1881, the country's second transcontinental railroad was completed near what is now Sierra Blanca, and Jay Gould drove in a silver spike to mark the occasion; the town of Sierra Blanca quickly developed into a shipping point and commercial center, and when the county was organized it became the county seat; Dell City, in the north, and Fort Hancock, near the Rio Grande, are the two other largest communities; and WHEREAS, The economy of Hudspeth County has been based chiefly on ranching, farming, and mining, along with tourism and hunting leases; a section of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, a destination for outdoors enthusiasts, is located within the county, as is part of the Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area, which is home to the largest population of free-ranging bighorn sheep in Texas; and WHEREAS, Popular annual events include the Dell Valley Hudspeth County Fair and Wild West Chile Fest, held jointly in Dell City, the Dell City Junior Livestock Show, Halloween Parade, and July Fourth fireworks, and the Sierra Blanca livestock show and Fourth of July Fair; points of interest in Sierra Blanca include the old railroad depot, which now houses the Hudspeth County Museum, and the courthouse, which is the only such structure in Texas that is built of adobe; and WHEREAS, The citizens of Hudspeth County share a deep appreciation for their beloved corner of the Lone Star State, and it is a pleasure to recognize their achievements and their public spirit; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 27, 2013, as Hudspeth County Day at the State Capitol and extend to all those who have come to Austin sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable visit. Nevarez Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 626 was adopted by the House on February 27, 2013, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas