By: Cuellar, R. H.R. No. 389 73R6305 LBD-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The city of Weslaco, situated in the midvalley 1-2 region near the banks of the Rio Grande, will celebrate the 75th 1-3 anniversary of its founding on December 19, 1994; and 1-4 WHEREAS, In 1919, land promoter W. E. Stewart agreed to the 1-5 sale of 320 acres to three brothers, Ed, Dan, and R. C. Couch, and 1-6 Ed Couch's brother-in-law, R. L. Reeves; at a price of $250,000, 1-7 this investment would later prove immensely profitable for the 1-8 developers, as settlers flocked to the area and secured for 1-9 themselves and their families what was to become some of the best 1-10 citrus-, vegetable-, and cotton-producing land in the state; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Despite early opposition to the establishment of 1-12 another new town near the river, lots ranging in price from $50 to 1-13 approximately $400 sold quickly, and soon the community of Weslaco 1-14 began taking shape; and 1-15 WHEREAS, With vitality and resilience, the early residents of 1-16 Weslaco remained dedicated to their beloved community; enduring the 1-17 hardships of primitive conditions, bandit raids, fires, and floods, 1-18 they prevailed and made possible the comforts of today's thriving 1-19 community; and 1-20 WHEREAS, With each passing decade, Weslaco has embraced 1-21 dramatic changes, each contributing to the city's popularity and 1-22 prosperity; and 1-23 WHEREAS, In the 1920s, the Texas A&M Valley Experiment 1-24 Station brought higher education to the area, while the 1930s 2-1 brought the advent of irrigation systems and the postal telegraph 2-2 to the community; in the 1950s, Weslaco found success in business 2-3 as cotton carried it into the postwar era, and the 1960s was a 2-4 period of continued progress and expansion with the opening of new 2-5 medical, industrial, and entertainment facilities; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Today, this dynamic city is recognized as the 2-7 business and banking capital of the midvalley and is home to such 2-8 popular attractions as the Weslaco Bicultural Museum and a charming 2-9 city hall that was built in 1928 and has been designated a historic 2-10 site; and 2-11 WHEREAS, With six area institutions of higher education, a 2-12 modern industrial park, growing airport facilities, and an 2-13 exceptional city infrastructure, Weslaco has taken great strides 2-14 over the course of its rich history; truly a community in which all 2-15 Texans can take pride, it is indeed deserving of special 2-16 recognition for its exceptional contributions to this state; now, 2-17 therefore, be it 2-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-19 Legislature hereby honor the city of Weslaco on the occasion of its 2-20 75th anniversary and join its citizens in paying tribute to one of 2-21 Texas' most outstanding communities; and, be it further 2-22 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-23 prepared for prominent display in the city of Weslaco as an 2-24 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.