88R15119 BK-D
By: Meza H.R. No. 355
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Distinguished citizens of Irving-Las Colinas are
gathering on March 1, 2023, to celebrate Irving-Las Colinas Day at
the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, which is
recognized as the first Five Star Chamber of Commerce in Texas,
actively represents the interests of the largest business park in
North Texas and is celebrating 90 years of service to the area's
thriving business community; for the last five decades, area
residents have also benefited from access to Las Colinas
Association, which helps to maintain a premier master-planned
community, as well as the Irving Convention and Visitor's Bureau
and Visit Irving, which have ably represented the hospitality
industry community in Irving-Las Colinas for the past half century;
and
WHEREAS, Irving began its period of rapid growth in the
mid-20th century; the Plymouth Park Shopping Center opened in 1955,
followed by the opening of the University of Dallas in 1956 and
Irving Community Hospital in 1964; the creation of DFW
International Airport and the creation of Las Colinas and Valley
Ranch master-planned business and residential communities
contributed further to the city's growth, and for more than four
decades, the city has been home to the Big 12 Conference
headquarters and the National Football Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Today, with a population of more than 254,000,
Irving has been ranked as the second most culturally diverse city in
the United States and is known as the "Headquarters of
Headquarters," with more headquarters per capita than any other
city in the State of Texas; Irving is home to more than 8,500
companies, including 10 Fortune 500 global headquarters:
ExxonMobil, McKesson Corporation, Caterpillar, Builders
FirstSource, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Pioneer Natural
Resources, Fluor Corporation, Vistra Energy, Celanese Corporation,
and Commercial Metals Company, as well as the Fortune 1000 global
headquarters for The Michaels Companies, Darling Ingredients,
Nexstar Media Group, and Flowserve Corporation; other major
employers include such companies as 7-Eleven, Allstate Insurance
Company, AT&T, The Boeing Company, CHRISTUS Health, Citigroup,
Inc., Keurig Dr Pepper, Envoy Air, Frito-Lay, Microsoft
Corporation, Mission Foods, NCH Corporation, NEC Corporation of
America, Neiman Marcus Direct, Trader Joe's, Trend Micro, TXOne
Networks, and Verizon; and
WHEREAS, Irving's educational resources make it a fine place
to live and work; the University of Dallas, Dallas College North
Lake Campus, and eight other institutions of higher education offer
opportunities for study and personal growth; and
WHEREAS, The Irving Arts Center, which was recognized as the
best arts center in Texas by the program Official Best of America in
2022, is home to three symphony orchestras and two award-winning
theater companies; other local attractions include the gondolas at
the Mandalay Canal, the museum and sculpture of the Mustangs of Las
Colinas, the Toyota Music Factory, and Gables Water Street, which
provide entertainment for residents and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, Benefiting greatly from the farsighted leadership
of mayor Rick Stopfer, city manager Chris Hillman, and city council
members John Bloch, Brad M. LaMorgese, Mark Zeske, Phil Riddle, J.
Oscar Ward, Al Zapanta, Kyle Taylor, and Dennis Webb, Irving is a
forward-looking and vibrant city, and its creative and hardworking
citizens are to be commended for their contributions to the
prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2023, as Irving-Las Colinas
Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the local
government officials, corporate executives, chamber
representatives, and other citizens present today.