81R7289 MMS-D

By: Pena H.R. No. 277

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Members of the Texas House of Representatives are pleased to join with a delegation of citizens from Edinburg in celebrating Edinburg Day at the State Capitol on February 10, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Established in the early 20th century and originally known as Chapin, Edinburg became the seat of Hidalgo County in 1908; though ranching initially formed the basis of the town's economy, the arrival of the railroad in 1909 and irrigation in 1915 soon led to an emphasis on the farming of cotton, grain, and citrus; in short order, the town became a thriving center for agricultural marketing and processing; and

WHEREAS, Long considered the gateway to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg is now a dynamic community of approximately 70,000 people; in October 2008, throngs of residents commemorated the town's centennial with a spirited, weeklong celebration, which included the opening of the new city hall; and

WHEREAS, Edinburg offers a wide range of amenities that mark it as a forward-looking city; the educational needs of area students are capably met by the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, which is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its founding in 2009; encompassing 945 square miles, the district includes 27 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, and an alternative campus; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1927 as Edinburg Junior College, The University of Texas--Pan American remains one of the Valley's premier institutions of higher learning; UTPA recently opened its Wellness and Recreation Sports Complex, and the school is moving forward with plans for the construction of a Fine Arts Center; the center is expected to bring in significant revenue to the university and the surrounding area and also to help draw corporations and industry to South Texas; and

WHEREAS, Standing adjacent to UTPA is the Medical Research Division of the Regional Academic Health Center, a part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; the Medical Research Division was dedicated in 2006 and will develop treatments for illnesses prevalent along the Texas-Mexico border; and

WHEREAS, Health care resources include the Edinburg Children's Hospital, the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, and three facilities that all opened in 2007--the Renaissance Behavioral Center, the Cancer Center at Renaissance, and the Women's Hospital at Renaissance; and

WHEREAS, The vibrant history and culture of the region are highlighted by the Museum of South Texas History, where new exhibits include 64 maps of Texas dating from 1548 to 2006, as well as a centennial exhibit that explores the history of education, government, civic life, and commerce in the city over the past 10 decades; as part of its 2003 expansion, the museum installed the first two sections of a permanent exhibit titled "Rio Grande Legacy," which presents the prehistory and history of the region with bilingual text and state-of-the-art displays; currently under development next to the museum is Will Looney Legacy Park, where exhibits will show how earlier inhabitants of South Texas adapted to the environment; and

WHEREAS, In June 2008, the local Boys and Girls Club, which serves almost 20,000 children in Edinburg and nearby communities, broke ground on a new, eco-friendly clubhouse; encompassing nearly 33,000 square feet, the building will sit on a 20-acre site that will feature a track, soccer field, walking trail, and tennis and basketball courts; and

WHEREAS, Other Edinburg attractions include the 40-acre wetlands of the World Birding Center, the Texas Cook 'Em cook-off, and the All-America City 10K Run/Walk, which draws runners from throughout Texas and Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Mayor Joe Ochoa and city council members Alma Garza, Noe Garza, Agustin Garcia, and Gene Espinoza, Edinburg continues on the trajectory of steady growth and improvement that has made it a three-time winner of the All-America City award, given by the National Civic League; and

WHEREAS, Proud of their rich history, the people of Edinburg are determined to preserve the best of the city's past while building a future full of hope and opportunity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2009, as Edinburg Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the delegation from Edinburg.