1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 228
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure
 1-4     in welcoming many distinguished visitors from El Paso on
 1-5     February 17, 1999, to celebrate El Paso Day in Austin; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, During almost 400 years of history, El Paso sprang
 1-7     from its original indigenous groups, the Spanish missions with
 1-8     their accompanying priests and converts, and the newer Anglo
 1-9     settlements into a modern 21st century city that is distinctly
1-10     bilingual, bicultural, and binational; and
1-11           WHEREAS, The modern city of El Paso and its partner city,
1-12     Juarez, make the area the largest border community in the world;
1-13     El Paso has a moderate climate, friendly people, skilled workers,
1-14     and a distinct culture, which attracts new industries, businesses,
1-15     and tourists; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Several successful businesses began their operations
1-17     here; among them are Old El Paso Foods, Continental Airlines, and
1-18     the Hilton Hotel chain; it is even said that El Paso resident
1-19     Francisco Pancho Morales created the margarita; and
1-20           WHEREAS, The home of many famous authors, artists, singers,
1-21     politicians, and members of the entertainment industry, El Paso
1-22     enjoys the advantages of a myriad of cultural attractions; the
1-23     El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the El Paso
1-24     Centennial Museum, several old missions, and the Ysleta del Sur
 2-1     Pueblo Indian Tribe and Reservation, home of one of Texas' three
 2-2     recognized Native American tribes, offer knowledge and
 2-3     entertainment; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, Presently El Paso is home to the nationwide civil
 2-5     rights group, the League of United Latin American Citizens; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Basketball Hall of Fame member Don Haskins is
 2-7     an El Paso resident and a longtime basketball coach at
 2-8     The University of Texas at El Paso; he moved to El Paso in
 2-9     1961 and was already established as a notable coach among
2-10     his peers; he led the Miners to seven Western Athletic
2-11     Conference Championships and 14 National Collegiate Athletic
2-12     Association appearances, including the one in 1966 when his
2-13     team won the title game by a score of 72-65; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Another outstanding citizen of El Paso is
2-15     Rosa Guerrero, founder of Rosa Guerrero Folklorico International;
2-16     in 1974, she began the first folklorico dance group; in 1979,
2-17     after she retired from teaching, she formed the Rosa Guerrero
2-18     Folklorico, which she continues to run today and remains interested
2-19     in education, supports bilingual education, and initiatives to help
2-20     drop out students; and
2-21           WHEREAS, One of the most famous authors in the country today
2-22     is an El Paso citizen, Cormac McCarthy; a writer who was not truly
2-23     discovered until recently, this author has written Suttree, Blood
2-24     Meridian, and his border trilogy, All the Pretty Horses, The
2-25     Crossing, and Cities of the Plains; and
2-26           WHEREAS, Another celebrated artist who is an El Paso citizen
 3-1     is Jose Cisneros, famed for his depictions of his early life in
 3-2     Durango, Mexico, and for collaborations with other artists; he won
 3-3     The University of Texas Paisano Fellowship in 1969; now, his works
 3-4     are desired and collected all over the world; he was proclaimed a
 3-5     Living Legend in 1997, and Governor and Mrs. George W. Bush honored
 3-6     him with a reception and dinner in 1998 in the Governor's Mansion;
 3-7     and
 3-8           WHEREAS, The Texas State Artist for two-dimensional works for
 3-9     1997-1998, Ernesto Pedregon Martinez, hails from South El Paso; a
3-10     self-taught artist, Mr. Martinez paints the everyday struggles of
3-11     the Mexican people; a muralist, he has painted military, religious,
3-12     and patriotic murals for hospitals, churches, and schools;
3-13     Mr. Martinez was designated Artist of the Year by the League of
3-14     United Latin American Citizens in 1975; and
3-15           WHEREAS, The colorful traditions and rich history of El Paso
3-16     will guarantee its prominence in the tales of the Lone Star State,
3-17     and its citizens deserve to be proud of the extraordinary city
3-18     which they call home; now, therefore, be it
3-19           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-20     76th Legislature, hereby extend a hearty welcome to El Paso visitors
3-21     coming to the State Capitol for El Paso Day on February 17, 1999;
3-22     and, be it further
3-23           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
3-24     expression of the highest regard and esteem of the Texas Senate.
3-25                                                       Shapleigh, Duncan
3-26           Armbrister           Harris              Nixon
3-27           Barrientos           Haywood             Ogden
3-28           Bernsen              Jackson             Ratliff
 4-1           Bivins               Lindsay             Shapiro
 4-2           Brown                Lucio               Sibley
 4-3           Cain                 Luna                Truan
 4-4           Carona               Madla               Wentworth
 4-5           Ellis                Moncrief            West
 4-6           Fraser               Nelson              Whitmire
 4-7           Gallegos                                 Zaffirini
 4-8                       Perry, President of the Senate
 4-9                                  ______________________________________
4-10                                          President of the Senate
4-11                                       I hereby certify that the above
4-12                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-13                                  on February 17, 1999.
4-14                                  ______________________________________
4-15                                          Secretary of the Senate
4-16                                  ______________________________________
4-17                                           Member, Texas Senate
4-18                                  ______________________________________
4-19                                           Member, Texas Senate