H.R. No. 253 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, With a population exceeding 100,000, the city of 1-2 Mesquite, located in Dallas County, is the third-fastest growing 1-3 city in Texas and the 12th-fastest growing city in the United 1-4 States, yet it has managed to retain the small-town charm and 1-5 spirit of hospitality that give it its distinctive Texas character; 1-6 and 1-7 WHEREAS, The city has been honored as having the number one 1-8 urban forestry program in Texas and has been designated a Tree City 1-9 U.S.A. by the National Arbor Day Foundation for its efforts to 1-10 plant 20,000 trees by the year 2000; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Mesquite has been recognized as a Keep Texas 1-12 Beautiful Proud Community, Keep America Beautiful affiliate, and 1-13 winner of the Governor's Community Achievement Award for litter 1-14 prevention and beautification efforts; and 1-15 WHEREAS, The city has been designated a bird sanctuary by the 1-16 Dallas County Audubon Society for its efforts to preserve and 1-17 enhance natural habitats; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Mesquite has been recognized by the United States 1-19 Conference of Mayors as one of the 10 most livable cities in the 1-20 United States; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The award-winning Mesquite Independent School 1-22 District is one of the highest-rated school districts in Texas, 1-23 attracting families seeking a high standard of educational 1-24 excellence; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Mesquite has been recognized by both the United 2-2 States Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities with 2-3 top awards for its youth programs and activities; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Eastfield College, the Mesquite campus of East Texas 2-5 State University, and the planned Texas A&M Engineering Extension 2-6 Service regional training center meet the needs of many Dallas 2-7 County residents seeking affordable higher education opportunities 2-8 and training; and 2-9 WHEREAS, The city has achieved stature as a commercial and 2-10 industrial center, located minutes away from downtown Dallas and 2-11 served by four interstate highways providing access to regional and 2-12 national markets; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Mesquite had the first covered shopping center in 2-14 the state at Bigtown and is now home to Town East Mall, the number 2-15 one "preferred mall" in the Metroplex; and 2-16 WHEREAS, In addition to the many educational and employment 2-17 opportunities that make this prosperous North Texas city one of the 2-18 most livable places in the state, special events abound throughout 2-19 the year, contributing to the special community spirit found in 2-20 Mesquite; among these are the famous Mesquite Championship Rodeo 2-21 season and parade, the Mesquite Music Festival in May, and the 2-22 Mesquite Balloon Festival in July; and 2-23 WHEREAS, The city has numerous cultural groups, including the 2-24 Mesquite Symphony, Community Theater, Civic Chorus, and Community 2-25 Band, which have expanded the cultural horizons of Mesquite; and 2-26 WHEREAS, The residents of Mesquite justifiably take great 2-27 pride in their hometown, and it gives the members of this 3-1 legislative body great pleasure to join with our fellow Texans in 3-2 saluting this fine Texas community; now, therefore, be it 3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 3-4 Legislature hereby declare February 16, 1993, "Make It Mesquite 3-5 Day" at the Texas Capitol and commend the citizens of Mesquite for 3-6 their many contributions to the State of Texas; and, be it further 3-7 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 3-8 for Mayor Cathye Ray, Mesquite ISD Board of Trustees President Sue 3-9 Ann Mackey, Mesquite Chamber of Commerce President Len Gibbens, and 3-10 Mesquite Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Gary Bingham as an 3-11 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. 3-12 Granoff 3-13 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. 3-14 Blackwood 3-15 Granoff