H.R. No. 226
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Residents of the city of McAllen are gathering at
  the State Capitol on February 6, 2007, to celebrate their
  community's contributions to the vitality of the Lone Star State;
  and
         WHEREAS, Located in southern Hidalgo County, the site of
  present-day McAllen was developed by Spanish settler Jose Manuel
  Gomez, who founded the Santa Anita Ranch in 1797; the ranch grew in
  size and passed through the hands of several heirs of his
  great-granddaughter, Salome Balli, who married John McAllen;
  together they continued to add to the property and renamed it
  McAllen Ranch; and
         WHEREAS, In 1904, Mr. McAllen and other early settlers
  established a town site called West McAllen, where the St. Louis,
  Brownsville & Mexico Railroad arrived a year later; additional
  developers founded East McAllen in 1907, and the two towns
  eventually merged and welcomed several businesses, churches,
  residences, and a newspaper; by 1920, the city's population
  exceeded 5,000 and continued to grow steadily; and
         WHEREAS, In the last three decades, McAllen has become a
  center for business, commerce, and government in the Valley, and
  according to the 2000 census, it is one of the fastest-growing
  metropolitan statistical areas in the country; it has been voted as
  one of the best places to do business in the United States by Forbes 
  magazine, and it was named number one in midsize cities for growth
  and development in the South by Southern Business Magazine; and
         WHEREAS, The unique landscape of the Rio Grande Valley
  provides promising soil for farming and produces a hospitable
  environment for cultivating citrus fruits, cotton, sugarcane, and
  many other crops and vegetables; a variety of ecosystems also
  nurtures many unusual flora and fauna specific to this region of the
  country; and
         WHEREAS, A center for cultural activities, McAllen is home to
  the International Museum of Art and Science, which serves as a
  showcase for traveling exhibitors, loaned works from the
  Smithsonian Institution, and an extensive collection of Latin
  American folk art; tourists and residents alike enjoy festive
  annual events, including the Candlelight Posada, the Fourth of July
  Fajita Cook-off, the Texas Citrus Fiesta, Springfest, Borderfest,
  and the Texas Square Dance Jamboree; and
         WHEREAS, The citizens of McAllen are justifiably proud of
  their city, which has played a significant role in the annals of
  Texas history, and it is a pleasure to pay tribute to them on this
  special day; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize February 6, 2007, as McAllen Day at
  the State Capitol and extend to all those McAllen residents who are
  present on this day sincere best wishes for a memorable visit to
  Austin.
 
  Gonzales
  Flores
  Pena
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 226 was adopted by the House on
  February 6, 2007, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House