By Kubiak                                               H.R. No. 14
       74R310 BNL-D
                                  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 enterprise
    2-9  to expand his already successful business, Dusty Henson has proven
   2-10  himself to be an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere, and his
   2-11  valuable efforts to promote international trade are indeed worthy
   2-12  of special praise and recognition; now, therefore, be it
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-14  Legislature hereby commend Dusty Henson for his outstanding
   2-15  business accomplishments and extend to him warmest best wishes for
   2-16  many more years of continued success; and, be it further
   2-17        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-18  prepared for Mr. Henson as an expression of high regard by the
   2-19  Texas House of Representatives.