By Gutierrez                                     H.R. No. 407

      75R9410 WMS-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 March 20, 1997; 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 and 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 75th Texas

2-21     Legislature hereby recognize March 20, 1997, as the second

2-22     observance of City of Pharr Day at the Capitol and extend warmest

2-23     best wishes to all of its citizens on this noteworthy occasion;

2-24     and, be it further

2-25           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-26     prepared for the citizens of Pharr as an expression of high regard

2-27     by the Texas House of Representatives.