H.R. No. 650
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Val Verde County and the city of
Del Rio are gathering in Austin on April 2, 2025, to celebrate Val
Verde County-Del Rio Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, The earliest inhabitants of the region resided in
the Lower Pecos Canyon, near present-day Comstock, between 6,000
and 10,000 years ago, and they left behind numerous cave paintings
and artifacts; in 1535, Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
crossed what is now known as the Devils River, an area that was then
home to the Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, Jumano, and Tamaulipan
people and was later frequented by the Comanche; and
WHEREAS, The community of San Felipe Del Rio, which later
adopted the shortened name of Del Rio, was established in 1868, and
Val Verde County was organized in 1885; that same year, the colorful
Judge Roy Bean was elected justice of the peace in Langtry, where he
became known as "the Law West of the Pecos," making his distinctive
rulings from the Jersey Lilly Saloon; and
WHEREAS, Since its earliest days, Val Verde County has been a
center for sheep and goat ranching, and the wool and mohair
industries continue to be central to its economy; other important
employers include the National Park Service, the U.S. Border
Patrol, and Laughlin Air Force Base, the largest pilot training
facility in the U.S. Air Force; and
WHEREAS, Tourism and trade with Mexico are also important to
the county; opportunities for boating, fishing, birding, and hiking
are found at the Amistad National Recreation Area, and the
Whitehead Memorial Museum in Del Rio and the Judge Roy Bean Visitor
Center in Langtry attract visitors interested in the heritage of
the county's frontier days; in addition, the Laughlin Heritage
Foundation Museum educates the public on the significance of air
power in national security; and
WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich history as they work to build
an even brighter future, the people of Val Verde County may take
great pride in the important role their unique area continues to
play in the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 2, 2025, as Val Verde County-Del
Rio Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the
visiting delegation.
Morales of Maverick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 650 was adopted by the House on April
2, 2025, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House