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78R8363 MMS-D

By:  Pena                                                         H.R. No. 413



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Many citizens of the Delta area in Hidalgo County 
are visiting Austin on March 10, 2003, to celebrate the significant 
role this historic locale has played in the development of the Lower 
Rio Grande Valley; and
	WHEREAS, The Delta area was settled before 1800 by ranchers, 
who introduced cattle and sheep and a variety of crops; Spanish land 
grants in the vicinity included the Llano Grande, given to Juan José
Ynojosa de Ballí in 1790, and a grant issued to Vicente de Ynojosa 
in 1797; some 50 or more years later, Miguel Fernández and Macedonio 
Vela operated their ranches, La Bota and Laguna Seca, in the area; 
and
	WHEREAS, In the early 1900s, Anglo-Americans began making 
their homes in this district, lured by the bright prospects for 
developing truck farms; at one time, the Delta area was home to some 
of the largest canning and packaging companies anywhere in the 
world; today, agriculture continues to constitute a major source of 
the county's economy, and Hidalgo County ranks first in the state in 
the market value of its crops; and
	WHEREAS, Towns in the Delta area include Edcouch, Elsa, La 
Villa, and Monte Alto; Edcouch was named for local landowner and 
banker Edward Couch, while Elsa was named for Elsie George, wife of 
another local landowner, William George; on March 2, 2003, Elsa 
celebrated the 76th anniversary of its founding; and
	WHEREAS, Deeply committed to their youth and to civic 
participation, area residents in 1997 created the Llano Grande 
Center for Research and Development; a nonprofit organization based 
at Edcouch-Elsa High School, the center works to nurture the 
talents and leadership potential of local students and to 
strengthen the community fabric; among the many successes of which 
it can boast is a college preparation and placement program, begun 
informally several years before the center's founding, that between 
1993 and 2001 saw more than 51 students admitted to Ivy League 
universities; and
	WHEREAS, The residents of these proud Delta communities are 
drawing on the strengths of all their people as they work to 
preserve their rich heritage and build toward a future of 
ever-expanding opportunity; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize March 10, 2003, as Delta Day at the 
State Capitol and extend to all those here today sincere best wishes 
for an enjoyable and memorable visit.