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H.C.R. No. 12
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Woodlands celebrated its 30th anniversary in
October 2004, and this milestone provides a fitting opportunity to
honor the community's founder, George Mitchell; and
WHEREAS, The son of a Greek immigrant, George Mitchell rose
from an underprivileged background in Galveston to own a Fortune
500 company, Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation, and to be
named to the Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans; although this
esteemed businessman has drilled 12,000 oil and gas wells,
dedicated himself to countless philanthropic causes, and earned
numerous awards, including the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni
Award, the Horatio Alger Award, the Texas Business Hall of Fame
Award, and the National Preservation Honor Award, he considers one
of his crowning achievements the establishment of The Woodlands;
and
WHEREAS, A 27,000-acre forested community located 27 miles
north of Houston, The Woodlands was originally conceived in the
1960s when Mr. Mitchell envisioned creating a master-planned
community that would integrate commercial and residential growth
with the surrounding natural environment; in 1964, he successfully
acquired 50,000 acres of timberland in Montgomery County for the
project from the Grogan-Cochran Timber Company, but 300 additional
transactions would be required before construction finally
commenced in 1972; and
WHEREAS, With fewer than 40 residents, The Woodlands
officially opened on October 19, 1974, when a flag was raised at The
Woodlands Information Center; and
WHEREAS, When George Mitchell learned that a Conroe
schoolteacher could not afford to build a home in the area, this
compassionate Texan immediately worked to remedy that situation by
taking advantage of a housing and urban development act, which
allowed loan guarantees for construction of affordable housing in
burgeoning communities; and
WHEREAS, The HUD loans mandated that a minimum of 23 percent
of the development be left as open space, and the actual figure
today is closer to 25 percent, translating to approximately 5,000
acres devoted to green space in parks, golf courses, greenbelts,
and hiking and biking trails; and
WHEREAS, Currently, more than 70,000 residents and 1,100
businesses call The Woodlands home and over 30,000 people are
employed in the community; George Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia,
maintain a home there, and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, an
outdoor amphitheater and performing arts facility that was opened
in 1990, is the official summer home of the Houston Symphony
Orchestra, thanks to a generous gift from the couple; and
WHEREAS, George Mitchell's refusal to compromise his goal of
creating a close-knit community that would achieve a harmonious
balance between social, economic, and ecological concerns has
resulted in a city that many consider to be the quintessential
American community, and it is a pleasure to recognize him for this
extraordinary achievement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby honor George Mitchell on the 30th anniversary of the
founding of The Woodlands and extend to him deep appreciation for
his ingenuity, his generosity, and his unwavering dedication to
realizing his dream; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Mitchell as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
Eissler
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 12 was adopted by the House on
February 3, 2005, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 12 was adopted by the Senate on
February 7, 2005, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor