By Gutierrez                                           H.R. No. 686
       74R10707 SAJ-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to join
    1-2  with the citizens of Pharr in the celebration of City of Pharr Day
    1-3  at the Capitol on April 26, 1995; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Located in the heart of the Lower Rio Grande Valley,
    1-5  the town was settled by noted Louisiana sugarcane farmer Henry N.
    1-6  Pharr, who came to the area after viewing some of the region's
    1-7  magnificent sugarcane stalks at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis;
    1-8  greatly impressed with what he found, Mr. Pharr bought 20,000 acres
    1-9  of farmland and relocated his family's home and business to South
   1-10  Texas; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Word of the region's abundant natural resources
   1-12  quickly spread, and founders laid out Pharr's townsite in 1909;
   1-13  citizens continued to come to make their homes in this growing and
   1-14  desirable community, and the town was officially incorporated in
   1-15  1916; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Successful irrigation efforts and a warm sunny
   1-17  climate have helped the area to become one of the nation's leading
   1-18  producers of winter vegetables and citrus fruits; Pharr currently
   1-19  boasts a diversified and prosperous economy that includes cotton
   1-20  and natural gas production, and the city is home to some of the
   1-21  world's fastest-growing industries and companies as well; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, This lovely and vibrant community is most definitely
   1-23  on the fast track; its population increased by an astounding 54
   1-24  percent between 1980 and 1990, and the city has experienced a
    2-1  steady and impressive annual growth rate of 2.5 percent for the
    2-2  past four years; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, The strength of its local economy can be attributed
    2-4  to several factors, including extensive transportation and
    2-5  infrastructure improvements; the intersection of U.S. Highways 281
    2-6  and 83 has been greatly enhanced, and the new international bridge
    2-7  connecting Pharr to Reynosa, Mexico, facilitates the city's foreign
    2-8  trade opportunities; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Pharr draws many visitors who come to enjoy its
   2-10  array of natural and cultural resources; the nearly 2,000-acre
   2-11  Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge offers nature lovers outstanding
   2-12  opportunities to view the region's wide variety of flora and fauna,
   2-13  while the popular Old Clock Museum houses nearly 450 antique
   2-14  clocks, some of which date back to 1690; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Pharr is a
   2-16  prosperous, forward-looking community and a leading participant in
   2-17  the state's dynamic growth, and it gives the members of this
   2-18  chamber great pleasure to join with our fellow citizens in saluting
   2-19  this fine Texas community; now, therefore, be it
   2-20        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-21  Legislature hereby designate April 26, 1995, as City of Pharr Day
   2-22  at the Capitol and extend warmest best wishes to all its citizens
   2-23  on this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-25  prepared for the citizens of Pharr as an expression of high regard
   2-26  by the Texas House of Representatives.