R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to join 1-2 the citizens of Corpus Christi in the joyous celebration of Corpus 1-3 Christi Day on February 19, 1997; and 1-4 WHEREAS, First settled as a frontier trading post in 1839, 1-5 Corpus Christi is now the 74th largest city in the nation and the 1-6 eighth largest community in Texas, and happily, it has managed to 1-7 attain that status without sacrificing the delightful quality of 1-8 life that remains one of its chief attractions; and 1-9 WHEREAS, A vacationer's paradise, it is located near the 1-10 Padre Island National Seashore and has long been regarded as one of 1-11 the state's most popular coastal playground communities and the 1-12 recreational center of South Texas; and 1-13 WHEREAS, This beautiful seaside city has also earned 1-14 distinction as the deepest port in the state and as the sixth 1-15 busiest in the nation; its major cargoes are oil and refined 1-16 products, chemicals, bulk materials, and agricultural products, and 1-17 the vessels that ply the area transported more than 81 million tons 1-18 of freight to and from all ports of the world in 1996; and 1-19 WHEREAS, The bay area enjoys a bright economic forecast and 1-20 is creating new jobs faster than either the state or national 1-21 average; moreover, Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend region 1-22 continue to attract new residents, as roughly 500,000 people have 1-23 come to make their home in this lovely and desirable region; and 1-24 WHEREAS, The city is doubly proud to host two excellent 2-1 centers for higher education, Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, 2-2 and Del Mar College; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The community draws many visitors who come to enjoy 2-4 its wide array of cultural activities, including the Texas State 2-5 Aquarium, the Corpus Christi Watergarden, the Columbus Fleet, the 2-6 USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, the Art Museum of South Texas, the 2-7 Bayfront Arts and Science Park, the Harbor Playhouse, and the 2-8 Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, which houses the 2-9 highly acclaimed Spanish Shipwreck Collection; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Corpus Christi is also famous for its widely popular 2-11 festivals, including the Texas Jazz Festival, renowned as one of 2-12 the longest-running festivals of its kind in the country, and 2-13 Bayfest, an annual waterfront event that regularly draws crowds of 2-14 150,000; throughout the year, the Corpus Christi Greyhound Race 2-15 Track provides tourists and South Texans much enjoyment as well; 2-16 and 2-17 WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Corpus Christi is a 2-18 prosperous, forward-looking community and a leading participant in 2-19 the state's dynamic growth, and it gives the Texas House of 2-20 Representatives great pleasure to join with our fellow citizens in 2-21 saluting this fine Texas community; now, therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-23 Legislature hereby designate February 19, 1997, as Corpus Christi 2-24 Day at the Capitol and extend best wishes to all its citizens on 2-25 this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further 2-26 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-27 prepared for the citizens of Corpus Christi as an expression of 3-1 high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Berlanga _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 186 was adopted by the House on February 19, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House