By Najera                                              H.R. No. 169
         77R5371 WMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas
 1-2     takes pleasure in welcoming many distinguished visitors from El
 1-3     Paso on February 7, 2001, to celebrate El Paso Day in Austin; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, During almost 400 years of history, El Paso sprang
 1-5     from its original indigenous groups, the Spanish missions with
 1-6     their accompanying priests and converts, and the newer Anglo
 1-7     settlements into a modern 21st century city that is distinctly
 1-8     bilingual, bicultural, and binational; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, El Paso is the true International Gateway to the
1-10     Americas and with its partner city, Juarez, constitutes the largest
1-11     border community in the world; El Paso has a moderate climate,
1-12     friendly people, skilled workers, and a distinct culture, which
1-13     attracts new industries, businesses, and tourists; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Several successful businesses began their operations
1-15     here; among them are Old El Paso Foods, Continental Airlines, and
1-16     the Hilton Hotel chain; it is even said that El Paso resident
1-17     Francisco Pancho Morales created the margarita; and
1-18           WHEREAS, The home of many famous authors, artists, singers,
1-19     politicians, and members of the entertainment industry, El Paso
1-20     enjoys the advantages of a myriad of cultural attractions; the El
1-21     Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the El Paso
1-22     Centennial Museum, several old missions, and the Ysleta del Sur
1-23     Pueblo Indian Tribe and Reservation, home of one of the three
1-24     recognized Native American tribes in Texas, offer knowledge and
 2-1     entertainment; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Presently El Paso is home to the nationwide civil
 2-3     rights group, the League of United Latin American Citizens; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, Basketball Hall of Fame member Don Haskins is an El
 2-5     Paso resident and a longtime basketball coach at The University of
 2-6     Texas at El Paso; he moved to El Paso in 1961 and was already
 2-7     established as a notable coach among his peers; he led the Miners
 2-8     to seven Western Athletic Conference Championships and 14 National
 2-9     Collegiate Athletic Association appearances, including the one in
2-10     1966 when his team won the title game by a score of 72-65; and
2-11           WHEREAS, The 1960s also saw El Paso musician Bobby Fuller
2-12     rocket to stardom as the lead singer of the Bobby Fuller Four; the
2-13     group's single "I Fought the Law" was a top ten hit, and remains
2-14     one of the decade's great rock-and-roll anthems; and
2-15           WHEREAS, Another outstanding citizen of El Paso is Rosa
2-16     Guerrero, founder of Rosa Guerrero Folklorico International; in
2-17     1974, she began the first folklorico dance group; in 1979, after
2-18     she retired from teaching, she formed the Rosa Guerrero Folklorico,
2-19     which she continues to run today, and remains interested in
2-20     education, supporting bilingual education and initiatives to help
2-21     dropout students; and
2-22           WHEREAS, One of the most famous authors in the country today
2-23     is an El Paso citizen, Cormac McCarthy; a writer who was not truly
2-24     discovered until recently, this author has written Suttree, Blood
2-25     Meridian, and his border trilogy, All the Pretty Horses, The
2-26     Crossing, and Cities of the Plains; and
2-27           WHEREAS, Another celebrated artist who is an El Paso citizen
 3-1     is Jose Cisneros, famed for his depictions of 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 was selected by the
3-15     Texas Legislature as State Artist for 1997-1998; and
3-16           WHEREAS, The colorful traditions and rich history of El Paso
3-17     will guarantee its prominence in the tales of the Lone Star State,
3-18     and its citizens deserve to be proud of the extraordinary city
3-19     which they call home; now, therefore, be it
3-20           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-21     Legislature hereby extend a hearty welcome to El Paso visitors
3-22     coming to the State Capitol for El Paso Day on February 7, 2001;
3-23     and, be it further
3-24           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared as an
3-25     expression of the highest regard and esteem of the Texas House of
3-26     Representatives.