SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 337

WHEREAS, Residents of Del Rio and Val Verde County are gathering in Austin on March 21, 2023, 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 community of San Felipe 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 Laughlin Air Force Base, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the National Park Service; and

WHEREAS, Tourism and trade with Mexico are also part of the life of 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; 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 region continues to play in the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize March 21, 2023, as Val Verde County-Del Rio Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.

Gutierrez

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 22, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate