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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Edwards Abstract and Title Company is celebrating |
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| 6 | 7 | | its 135th anniversary in May 2015; and |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A leading title company in the Rio Grande Valley, |
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| 8 | 9 | | the firm was established in 1880 by Judge James Henry Edwards, who |
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| 9 | 10 | | played a key role in clearing land titles in Hidalgo and Starr |
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| 10 | 11 | | Counties; he spent many years gathering data for properties from |
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| 11 | 12 | | early settlers and old records, and he often visited the archives in |
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| 12 | 13 | | San Carlos, Mexico, to find missing heirs to Spanish land grants; |
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| 13 | 14 | | and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Judge Edwards died in 1925, and his wife, L. S. |
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| 15 | 16 | | Edwards, incorporated the firm with her sons, James and Cecil |
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| 16 | 17 | | Edwards; the family continued to operate the company in Edinburg |
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| 17 | 18 | | until 1984, when they sold it to Jesse D. Hedrick; he expanded the |
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| 18 | 19 | | business, opening new locations in McAllen, Weslaco, Mission, and |
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| 19 | 20 | | Sharyland Plantation; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, In 2001, Byron Jay Lewis purchased the company, and |
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| 21 | 22 | | he served as president before taking on the roles of board chair and |
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| 22 | 23 | | chief executive officer; he is also a founding partner in the law |
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| 23 | 24 | | firm of Lewis, Monroe, and Peña, which serves as counsel to the |
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| 24 | 25 | | company; today, Edwards Abstract and Title employs more than 80 |
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| 25 | 26 | | people at offices in Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen, |
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| 26 | 27 | | Mission, South Padre Island, and Weslaco; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Few businesses can claim a distinguished history |
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| 28 | 29 | | spanning well over a century, and it is indeed a pleasure to |
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| 29 | 30 | | recognize Edwards Abstract and Title Company as it marks this |
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| 30 | 31 | | significant milestone; now, therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 32 | 33 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Edwards Abstract and Title Company |
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| 33 | 34 | | on its 135th anniversary and extend to all those associated with the |
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| 34 | 35 | | firm sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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| 35 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 36 | 37 | | prepared for the company as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 37 | 38 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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