1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 159 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes 1-4 pleasure in welcoming many distinguished visitors from El Paso 1-5 on February 7, 2001, 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 2-1 enjoys the advantages of a myriad of cultural attractions; the 2-2 El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the El Paso 2-3 Centennial Museum, several old missions, and the Ysleta del Sur 2-4 Pueblo Indian Tribe and Reservation, home of one of the three 2-5 recognized Native American tribes in Texas, offer knowledge and 2-6 entertainment; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Presently El Paso is home to the nationwide civil 2-8 rights group, the League of United Latin American Citizens; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Basketball Hall of Fame member Don Haskins 2-10 is an El Paso resident and a longtime basketball coach at 2-11 The University of Texas at El Paso; he moved to El Paso in 1961 2-12 and was already established as a notable coach among his peers; he 2-13 led the Miners to seven Western Athletic Conference Championships 2-14 and 14 National Collegiate Athletic Association appearances, 2-15 including the one in 1966 when his team won the title game by a 2-16 score of 72-65; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Another outstanding citizen of El Paso is 2-18 Rosa Guerrero, founder of Rosa Guerrero Folklorico International; 2-19 in 1974, she began the first folklorico dance group; in 1979, 2-20 after she retired from teaching, she formed the Rosa Guerrero 2-21 Folklorico, which she continues to run today, and remains interested 2-22 in education, supporting bilingual education and initiatives to help 2-23 dropout students; and 2-24 WHEREAS, One of the most famous authors in the country today 3-1 is an El Paso citizen, Cormac McCarthy; a writer who was not truly 3-2 discovered until recently, this author has written Suttree, Blood 3-3 Meridian, and his border trilogy, All the Pretty Horses, The 3-4 Crossing, and Cities of the Plains; and 3-5 WHEREAS, Another celebrated artist who is an El Paso citizen 3-6 is Jose Cisneros, famed for his depictions of his early life in 3-7 Durango, Mexico, and for collaborations with other artists; he won 3-8 The University of Texas Paisano Fellowship in 1969; now, his works 3-9 are desired and collected all over the world; he was proclaimed a 3-10 Living Legend in 1997, and Governor and Mrs. George W. Bush honored 3-11 him with a reception and dinner in 1998 in the Governor's Mansion; 3-12 and 3-13 WHEREAS, The Texas State Artist for two-dimensional works for 3-14 1997-1998, Ernesto Pedregon Martinez, hails from South El Paso; a 3-15 self-taught artist, Mr. Martinez paints the everyday struggles of 3-16 the Mexican people; a muralist, he has painted military, religious, 3-17 and patriotic murals for hospitals, churches, and schools; 3-18 Mr. Martinez was designated Artist of the Year by the League of 3-19 United Latin American Citizens in 1975; and 3-20 WHEREAS, Natives of this westernmost Texas city have 3-21 achieved acclaim in many areas of endeavor, including entertainment, 3-22 journalism, and the law; among those who have risen to prominence 3-23 are United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 3-24 entertainer Debbie Reynolds, newsman Sam Donaldson, Star Trek 4-1 creator Gene Roddenberry, ventriloquist Ronn Lucas, Texas rock and 4-2 roll pioneer Bobby Fuller, and singer Florencia Bisenta de Casillas 4-3 Martinez Cardona, better known as Vikki Carr; El Paso's sister city, 4-4 Juarez, Mexico, is the hometown of internationally known recording 4-5 artist Juan Gabriel; and 4-6 WHEREAS, The colorful traditions and rich history of El Paso 4-7 will guarantee its prominence in the tales of the Lone Star State, 4-8 and its citizens deserve to be proud of the extraordinary city which 4-9 they call home; now, therefore, be it 4-10 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 4-11 77th Legislature, hereby extend a hearty welcome to El Paso visitors 4-12 coming to the State Capitol for El Paso Day on February 7, 2001, 4-13 and designate El Paso as the "International Gateway City to the 4-14 Americas"; and, be it further 4-15 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an 4-16 expression of the highest regard and esteem of the Texas Senate. 4-17 Shapleigh 4-18 Armbrister Gallegos Ogden 4-19 Barrientos Harris Shapiro 4-20 Bernsen Haywood Sibley 4-21 Bivins Jackson Staples 4-22 Brown Lindsay Truan 4-23 Cain Lucio Van de Putte 4-24 Carona Madla Wentworth 4-25 Duncan Moncrief West 4-26 Ellis Nelson Whitmire 4-27 Fraser Zaffirini 4-28 Ratliff, President of the Senate 4-29 ______________________________________ 4-30 President of the Senate 5-1 I hereby certify that the above 5-2 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 5-3 on February 7, 2001. 5-4 ______________________________________ 5-5 Secretary of the Senate 5-6 ______________________________________ 5-7 Member, Texas Senate