By Najera H.C.R. No. 2 77R3960 MDM-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives and Senate take 1-2 great pleasure in joining the citizens of El Paso in the 1-3 celebration of El Paso Days at the State Capitol on February 6-7, 1-4 2001; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Platted in 1859, the city takes its name from its 1-6 legendary location, El Paso del Norte, the Pass of the North; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Now Texas' fourth-largest city, El Paso is noted for 1-8 its fascinating union of cultures, languages, and history; its 1-9 precincts include Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, home of Tigua Indians who 1-10 moved to the area from New Mexico about 1680; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The U.S. Army post Fort Bliss was established in the 1-12 area in 1848; today more than 15,000 active military personnel are 1-13 assigned to the base, which is the largest air defense training 1-14 center in the world; and 1-15 WHEREAS, In addition to its military ties, El Paso is known 1-16 as the primary health care center for much of the southwestern 1-17 United States and northern Mexico, and it offers medical services 1-18 at five private hospitals, one public hospital, Texas Tech 1-19 University Health Science Center, and William Beaumont Army Medical 1-20 Center; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The city provides myriad academic and job-training 1-22 opportunities to its population through the comprehensive 1-23 curriculums offered at such noted educational institutions as The 1-24 University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso Community College, and the 2-1 Center for Workforce Preparedness; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Ideally situated regarding transportation, El 2-3 Pasoans enjoy easy access to two international airports, two 2-4 interstate highways, four international ports of entry, and three 2-5 rail providers; and 2-6 WHEREAS, The El Paso-Juarez, Mexico, metropolis makes up the 2-7 largest border community in the world and continues to draw both 2-8 business and tourism; the region's unprecedented economic growth is 2-9 due in large part to its appealing blend of a skilled workforce, 2-10 diverse cultures, welcoming residents, and a temperate climate; and 2-11 WHEREAS, El Paso boasts the world's largest Harley-Davidson 2-12 motorcycle dealership and is home base for numerous companies that 2-13 have achieved national and worldwide success, including Continental 2-14 Airlines, Old El Paso Foods, and the Hilton Hotel chain, founded by 2-15 former El Pasoan Conrad Hilton; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Also headquartered in El Paso is the League of 2-17 United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a nationally recognized 2-18 civil rights organization founded in Texas in 1929; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Set in a beautiful desert landscape dominated by the 2-20 Franklin Mountains, the city of El Paso offers an array of cultural 2-21 and recreational activities that range from the impressive Kress 2-22 Collection at the El Paso Museum of Art to world-class Mexican 2-23 food; the city can also lay claim to fame as the birthplace of a 2-24 widely popular beverage, the margarita, which was created by former 2-25 resident Francisco Pancho Morales; throughout the year sports 2-26 enthusiasts enjoy an exciting schedule of events featuring 2-27 variously the El Paso Diablos baseball team, the El Paso Buzzards 3-1 hockey team, and the El Paso Patriots soccer team; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Natives of this westernmost Texas city have achieved 3-3 acclaim in many areas of endeavor, including entertainment, 3-4 journalism, and the law; among those who have risen to prominence 3-5 are United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 3-6 entertainer Debbie Reynolds, newsman Sam Donaldson, Star Trek 3-7 creator Gene Roddenberry, ventriloquist Ronn Lucas, Texas rock and 3-8 roll pioneer Bobby Fuller, and singer Florencia Bisenta de Casillas 3-9 Martinez Cardona, better known as Vikki Carr; El Paso's sister 3-10 city, Juarez, Mexico, is the hometown of internationally known 3-11 recording artist Juan Gabriel; and 3-12 WHEREAS, The residents of El Paso take justifiable pride in 3-13 their city's rich and colorful history and enthusiastically 3-14 anticipate the challenges and opportunities of the coming years, 3-15 and it is indeed a joy to salute them and their fine city; now, 3-16 therefore, be it 3-17 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-18 hereby recognize February 6-7, 2001, as El Paso Days at the State 3-19 Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the residents of this historic 3-20 and dynamic city.