89R13109 HMR-D
By: Muñoz H.R. No. 185
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Mission are gathering in Austin on
February 18, 2025, to celebrate Mission Day at the State Capitol;
and
WHEREAS, The city of Mission was founded in 1908, the year the
Missouri Pacific Railroad established a station in the area, and
the city was named for La Lomita Mission, which was located nearby;
since then, Mission, home of the grapefruit, has grown to be a
thriving city with a population of more than 87,000 people; and
WHEREAS, The first citrus trees in the Rio Grande Valley were
planted in the Mission area; today, the citrus industry is a
multimillion-dollar business and is celebrated each year at the
Texas Citrus Fiesta; and
WHEREAS, Mission is a center for international trade and
entrepreneurship, and its Anzalduas International Bridge provides
a vital trade and tourism connection to Mexico; several
international manufacturers and other dynamic firms call Mission
home, including Stanley Black & Decker, Royal Technologies,
Wonderful Citrus, and the Texas International Produce Association;
Mission EDC manages the city's Center for Education and Economic
Development, a unique, 55,000-square-foot business incubator and
coworking space that has spawned numerous local enterprises; and
WHEREAS, A popular destination for "Winter Texans," Mission
boasts about 50 RV parks and welcomes an estimated 25,000 seasonal
residents during the coldest months of the year; and
WHEREAS, Recreational opportunities are abundant in Mission,
with such attractions as the National Butterfly Center, the World
Birding Center headquarters, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park,
and the 10-mile Mission Hike and Bike Trail; since 2019, Mission has
been recognized as an All-America City; and
WHEREAS, Mission was immortalized in Larry McMurtry's novel
and television miniseries, Lonesome Dove, and notable residents
have included United States Senator and Treasury Secretary Lloyd
Bentsen and United States Congressman Kika de la Garza; moreover,
Mission was the childhood home of legendary Dallas Cowboys coach
Tom Landry and a second home to Texas Governor Allan Shivers,
Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek, and three-time presidential
candidate William Jennings Bryan; and
WHEREAS, Mission Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity
to honor the border city's heritage and its many charms, which are
enjoyed by residents and vacationers alike; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 18, 2025, as Mission Day at
the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting
delegation.