H.R. No. 14 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Dusty Henson, the owner of El Paso Saddleblanket 1-2 Company, Inc., has distinguished himself as a successful 1-3 businessman and a visionary entrepreneur, and his decision to 1-4 expand his enterprise by opening a branch in Mexico will surely 1-5 provide economic benefits to residents on both sides of the border; 1-6 and 1-7 WHEREAS, Long known for its exclusive line of antiques, art, 1-8 jewelry, and leather goods, El Paso Saddleblanket also carries a 1-9 wide variety of Mexican goods and clothing made by artisans in 1-10 Oaxaca, Morelia, Mexico City, Nuevo Leon, Guanajuato, and Puebla; 1-11 the establishment of El Paso Saddleblanket de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., 1-12 in Santa Isabel, Chihuahua, will provide a manufacturing and 1-13 distribution center for these artifacts, thus streamlining the 1-14 import process and allowing Mr. Henson to meet the growing demand 1-15 for these fine products with greater efficiency; and 1-16 WHEREAS, This operation, located at "Rancho El Cid," will 1-17 include facilities to produce weavings, pottery, metal products 1-18 such as horesehoes, branding irons, and spurs, and decorative items 1-19 made from cow horns and skulls; master artisans from across Mexico 1-20 will be recruited to teach these crafts to apprentices, and by 1-21 providing this opportunity for local workers to learn a trade and 1-22 earn reasonable wages, El Paso Saddleblanket de Mexico aspires to 1-23 become an integral part of the Santa Isabel community; and 1-24 WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Henson's company will have an 2-1 excellent opportunity to expand Mexican and Latin American markets 2-2 for goods and services from the United States; the sustained growth 2-3 of the middle-class and upper-class segments of Mexican society, 2-4 combined with an expectation of increased trade under the North 2-5 American Free Trade Agreement, indicate that the El Paso 2-6 Saddleblanket Company has embarked on a promising business venture; 2-7 and 2-8 WHEREAS, By searching out this unique and timely 2-9 enterprise to expand his already successful business, Dusty Henson 2-10 has proven himself to be an inspiration to entrepreneurs 2-11 everywhere, and his valuable efforts to promote international trade 2-12 are indeed worthy of special praise and recognition; now, 2-13 therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-15 Legislature hereby commend Dusty Henson for his outstanding 2-16 business accomplishments and extend to him warmest best wishes for 2-17 many more years of continued success; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for Mr. Henson as an expression of high regard by the 2-20 Texas House of Representatives.