H.R. No. 84 


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 50th anniversary of Chico's Tacos provides a fitting opportunity to recognize this famous local eatery and the family legacy behind it; and WHEREAS, The late Joe B. Mora of El Paso, who believed in concentrating on the basics in business, opened his first Chico's Tacos on July 4, 1953, on Alameda Street; over the years, Chico's Tacos' popularity has grown so much that four other locations have opened, the most recent one in June 2003 at Montwood and Trawood; and WHEREAS, Loyal and generous to his hometown of El Paso, Mr. Mora made Chico's Tacos a local fixture; many El Pasoans have celebrated birthdays, marked anniversaries, and held weddings in the restaurant; and WHEREAS, Before opening Chico's Tacos, Mr. Mora was a boxing promoter, and he continued to support boxers by regularly hiring men who were in between fights or in retirement to work in his restaurants; and WHEREAS, His winning recipes, including a closely guarded one for a secret sauce, have attracted a large and loyal following as well as numerous celebrities, including Paul Rodriguez and members of the band N'Sync; radio personality Don Imus mentioned Chico's Tacos on his nationally syndicated show, and boxing sensation Oscar De La Hoya is said to have eaten at Chico's Tacos after a championship fight; more recently, troops from El Paso's Fort Bliss who have been stationed in Iraq are reported by CNN to have been requesting Chico's Tacos because they so missed the taste of that local treasure; and WHEREAS, Since Mr. Mora passed away in 1992, his wife, Emma Mora, his sons, Richard, Bernie, and William, and daughters, Melinda Mora Carter and Carolyn Mora, have continued his tradition of success, using the same menu, recipes, and business practices established by Mr. Mora more than half a century ago; they are admirably upholding Mr. Mora's standards of excellence and keeping the family legacy alive; and WHEREAS, Chico's Tacos, where customers can still get three tacos for $1.14, has captivated the taste buds of El Paso residents and visitors for generations, and this outstanding restaurant and the family behind it truly deserve special recognition on this milestone anniversary; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate the Mora family and the restaurant staff on the 50th anniversary of Chico's Tacos and extend to them best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Mora family and staff of Chico's Tacos as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Chavez ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 84 was adopted by the House on July 18, 2003, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House