89R20757 DSH-D By: Gutierrez S.R. No. 351 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Residents of Del Rio and Val Verde County are gathering in Austin on April 2, 2025, to celebrate Val Verde County-Del Rio Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, The brushlands along the Rio Grande were first inhabited more than 6,000 years ago by native peoples whose cave paintings are still visible; the city of Del Rio traces its origins to 1868, when the community of San Felipe Del Rio was established, 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, Important employers in the county include Laughlin Air Force Base, the U.S. Border Patrol, and various maquiladoras; tourism and trade with Mexico are also integral to the local economy; 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; 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 Senate 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.