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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of El Paso are gathering at the |
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State Capitol on February 7, 2007, to celebrate El Paso Day, and the |
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event provides a perfect occasion to recognize the dynamism of this |
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great Texas city; and |
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WHEREAS, Anchoring the far west corner of the state, where |
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the United States and Mexico come together, El Paso boasts a |
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colorful history informed by the mingling of many cultures and |
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customs, each of which has contributed greatly to the city's status |
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as a diverse and thriving international metropolis; and |
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WHEREAS, Native Americans dwelt for centuries in this harsh |
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desert beside the Rio Grande; in 1581 members of the |
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Rodriguez-Sanchez expedition named a pass between two mountain |
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ranges El Paso del Norte, and the first permanent Spanish colony was |
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founded near present-day San Elizario by Juan de Onate in 1598; and |
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WHEREAS, For the next two centuries, El Paso remained part of |
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the Spanish empire, and then, after 1821, part of Mexico; the |
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complex community of Europeans, mestizos, and Indians along the Rio |
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Grande became an important junction on the Camino Real; and |
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WHEREAS, After the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, |
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El Paso became a part of the United States, leading to the growth of |
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Anglo settlements along the north bank of the Rio Grande and laying |
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the foundations for the multicultural character of the city; and |
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WHEREAS, El Paso welcomed the arrival of the railroad in |
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1881, and a dusty village of a few hundred was transformed into a |
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western boomtown of 10,000; during this lively era, El Paso was |
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known as the "Six Shooter Capital," teeming with gamblers, |
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gunfighters, and cattlemen, including such famous figures as lawman |
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Pat Garrett and outlaw John Wesley Hardin; and |
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WHEREAS, By the early 20th century reform-minded citizens had |
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curbed much of El Paso's wildness; over 77,000 individuals called |
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El Paso home by 1925, and as the nation's third fastest growing |
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metropolitan area, it now has more than 700,000 residents; its |
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special relationship with Ciudad Juarez, its sister city across the |
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Rio Grande, gives the two cities the distinction of being one of the |
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largest population centers on any international border in the |
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world; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, El Paso is the focal point of an annual $20 |
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billion in trade between the United States and Mexico; long known as |
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the headquarters of such famous brands as Tony Lama Boots, its |
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diverse economy includes agriculture, textiles, tourism, the |
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manufacture of cement and other building materials, and the |
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refining of metals and petroleum; and |
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WHEREAS, For over a century the presence of Fort Bliss has |
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contributed to the city's economy and its proud military tradition; |
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and Fort Bliss will receive over 49,000 troops, spouses and |
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children by 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, The true story of the 1966 Texas Western College |
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basketball team, featuring the first-ever all-black starting |
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line-up in college athletic history, led by the legendary Coach Don |
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"The Bear" Haskins, won the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball |
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Championship; their achievement broke down the racial barriers in |
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sports and inspired the movie "Glory Road"; and |
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WHEREAS, The city provides myriad opportunities for higher |
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education through The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso |
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Community College, and the El Paso campus of Howard Payne |
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University; further bolstering the city's appeal are cultural |
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attractions, such as the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Symphony |
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Orchestra, the El Paso Museum of History, and the Fort Bliss Museum, |
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as well as professional sporting teams the El Paso Diablos baseball |
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team and the El Paso Patriots soccer team; and |
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WHEREAS, This lively city has been the birthplace and home to |
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many remarkable Americans, including Supreme Court justice Sandra |
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Day O'Connor; Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry; actors Gilbert |
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Roland, Debbie Reynolds, and Thomas Haden Church; and singers Phil |
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Ochs, Bobby Fuller, and Florencia Bisenta de Casillas Martinez |
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Cardona, better known as Vikki Carr; and |
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WHEREAS, Joining the delegation today are proud members of |
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the Tigua tribe of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, who have established |
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themselves as important contributors to the economy of El Paso, |
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owning and operating tribal businesses that benefit its members, |
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its business partners, and the people of El Paso; this afternoon |
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tribal members will perform an ancient dance in the Capitol |
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rotunda, sharing with the house an important part of their cultural |
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heritage; and |
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WHEREAS, Living in a unique setting where urban vivacity |
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meets the severe beauty of the desert, the citizens of El Paso may |
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take great pride in the knowledge that their community has |
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contributed immeasurably to the vitality of the Lone Star State; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2007, as El Paso Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best |
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wishes for an enjoyable and memorable visit to Austin. |