| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas |
|
|
is pleased to join the proud citizens of Victoria in celebrating |
|
|
Victoria Day at the State Capitol on February 28, 2007; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The city of Victoria and Victoria County have a rich |
|
|
history; one of the historical highlights was when the Republic of |
|
|
Mexico approved Don Martin DeLeon's request for a large land grant |
|
|
on the lower Guadalupe River in 1824; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A highly respected Mexican citizen, Don Martin |
|
|
DeLeon received permission to establish a town at a site known |
|
|
earlier as Cypress Grove; established with 41 families, the town |
|
|
would become known as Victoria, named after Guadalupe Victoria, the |
|
|
president of Mexico; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Victoria's Main Street today was known then as La |
|
|
Calle de los Diez Amigos, or The Street of the Ten Friends; the town |
|
|
was incorporated under the Republic of Texas in 1839, and the first |
|
|
property taxes were assessed in 1843; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Ranching was the first major enterprise in the area, |
|
|
and it brought in capital needed for development; commercial |
|
|
ventures became successful, and by 1917, paved streets were |
|
|
becoming common; by the end of World War II, Victoria had become one |
|
|
of the fastest growing cities in Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The city has a symphony orchestra, a fine arts |
|
|
association, museums, libraries, and the National Zoo of Texas, |
|
|
which is home to more than 200 native Texas animals and plants; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Three major highways, railroads, and commercial |
|
|
airlines make Victoria easily accessible to businesses; it is also |
|
|
located on a barge canal which is connected to the Gulf Intracoastal |
|
|
Waterway; as the Victoria County seat, the city serves as the |
|
|
commercial center of this thriving area; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In the fall of 2004, in front of the sign at the |
|
|
entrance to The Street of the Ten Friends, the Victoria Chamber of |
|
|
Commerce and the Victoria Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced |
|
|
their intent to merge their two successful organizations; today, |
|
|
the Victoria Chamber of Commerce is stronger for that union and |
|
|
better represents the business community that it serves; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Victoria is home to excellent public schools, a |
|
|
number of major employers, a university, and a community college; |
|
|
the city offers first-rate medical care, and it is an inviting city |
|
|
with an expanding economy; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The largest city in the "Golden Crescent Region," |
|
|
Victoria serves as the health, education, government, and retail |
|
|
service center for a five-county market area with a population of |
|
|
more than 185,000; the city thrives on the area's petrochemical |
|
|
industry, oil and gas exploration, retail trade, and agriculture; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Two of the city's qualities that appeal to all ages |
|
|
are big-city convenience and small-town friendliness; Victoria is |
|
|
an excellent town in which to live, work, and raise a family, and it |
|
|
is known for its appealing mix of history, natural attractions, and |
|
|
exciting art scene, and Victoria Day at the State Capitol provides a |
|
|
fitting opportunity to honor it; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2007, as Victoria Day at |
|
|
the State Capitol and welcome those individuals who have traveled |
|
|
to Austin to take part in the occasion. |
| |
|
|
Morrison |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 575 was adopted by the House on |
|
|
February 28, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |