By Chavez H.C.R. No. 84 76R6378 GMW-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, On February 16-17, 1999, many proud El Pasoans will 1-2 gather in Austin to celebrate El Paso Days at the Capitol; and 1-3 WHEREAS, The fourth-largest city in Texas, El Paso is known 1-4 for its unique and diverse union of cultures, languages, and 1-5 histories that have shaped this distinctive city since 1598, when 1-6 it was christened "El Paso del Norte"; and 1-7 WHEREAS, El Paso celebrates its diverse indigenous 1-8 communities, including the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Indian Tribe and 1-9 Reservation in El Paso's lower valley; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In 1848, the cavalry post Fort Bliss was established 1-11 in El Paso, and more than 150 years later the military post is the 1-12 site of the largest air defense training center in the world, with 1-13 more than 15,000 active military personnel; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Modern-day El Paso serves as the health care center 1-15 for much of the Southwest and Mexico, boasting five private 1-16 hospitals, one public hospital, Thomason Hospital, Texas Tech 1-17 Health Science Center, and William Beaumont Army Medical Center; 1-18 and 1-19 WHEREAS, The city's educational environment is truly an 1-20 international one, ably meeting the academic and training needs of 1-21 Texas' future workforce through the curriculum offered at such 1-22 outstanding institutes of learning as The University of Texas at El 1-23 Paso, El Paso Community College, and the newly created Center for 1-24 Workforce Preparedness; and 2-1 WHEREAS, El Paso is the largest international metroplex in 2-2 the world, with a strategic regional location that provides easy 2-3 access to an extensive transportation network, comprising two 2-4 international airports, two interstate highways, four international 2-5 ports of entry, and three rail providers; and 2-6 WHEREAS, El Paso's stature as a great international city 2-7 continues to attract both business and tourism, and together with 2-8 its adjoining city, Juarez, Mexico, this sprawling modern 2-9 metropolis comprises the largest border community in the world; the 2-10 city's abundance of skilled workers, combined with its friendly 2-11 people, diverse culture, and temperate climate, has created an 2-12 attractive and productive atmosphere for new businesses and 2-13 industries, and this has brought unprecedented economic growth to 2-14 the region; and 2-15 WHEREAS, A center of international commerce, many successful 2-16 companies have had their origins in El Paso, including Continental 2-17 Airlines, Old El Paso Foods, and the Hilton Hotel chain, founded by 2-18 former El Pasoan Conrad Hilton, and the city is home to the world's 2-19 largest Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership; in addition to these 2-20 thriving businesses, El Paso is also the headquarters of the League 2-21 of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nationally 2-22 recognized civil rights organization; and 2-23 WHEREAS, The stark beauty of El Paso's desert surroundings 2-24 has been well documented by generations of talented artists and 2-25 writers, and the majestic backdrop of the Franklin Mountains is an 2-26 appropriately grand setting for one of the Lone Star State's most 2-27 appealing communities; and 3-1 WHEREAS, El Pasoans enjoy a wonderful array of cultural and 3-2 recreational activities, from taking in the Kress Collection at the 3-3 El Paso Museum of Art to cheering on the El Paso Diablos baseball 3-4 team, the El Paso Buzzards hockey team, and the El Paso Patriots 3-5 soccer team, and while many knowledgeable aficionados consider El 3-6 Paso's Mexican food to be among the best in the world, it is less 3-7 likely recognized, but no less important, that El Paso was home to 3-8 Francisco Pancho Morales, creator of the margarita; and 3-9 WHEREAS, The city has been home to a number of prominent 3-10 figures in the fields of entertainment, journalism, and the law, 3-11 including United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 3-12 entertainer Debbie Reynolds, newsman Sam Donaldson, Star Trek 3-13 creator Gene Roddenberry, ventriloquist Ronn Lucas, Texas rock and 3-14 roll pioneer Bobby Fuller, who, along with Buddy Holly, inspired 3-15 countless garage bands, and singer Florencia Bisenta de Casillas 3-16 Martinez Cardona, better known as Vikki Carr, while El Paso's 3-17 sister city, Juarez, Mexico, is the hometown of internationally 3-18 acclaimed recording artist Juan Gabriel; and 3-19 WHEREAS, El Paso's rich history and colorful traditions have 3-20 ensured its enduring prominence in the story of the Lone Star 3-21 State, and as its citizens look forward to the challenges and 3-22 opportunities of El Paso's fifth century, they can take justifiable 3-23 pride and satisfaction in the world-class city they call home; now, 3-24 therefore, be it 3-25 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-26 hereby recognize February 16-17, 1999, as El Paso Days at the 3-27 Capitol and extend to its citizens best wishes for continued 4-1 success and happiness in the future.