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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The House of Representatives is pleased to join the |
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proud citizens of Victoria in celebrating Victoria Day at the State |
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Capitol on February 11, 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, The city of Victoria traces its origins to 1824, the |
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year that the Republic of Mexico approved a request for a large land |
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grant on the lower Guadalupe River for Don Martin DeLeon, a highly |
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respected Mexican citizen; as part of the grant, permission was |
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given to found a town at a site known earlier as Cypress Grove; the |
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community was established with 41 families and was named after |
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Guadalupe Victoria, the president of Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, The Victoria thoroughfare now known as Main Street |
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was originally named La Calle de los Diez Amigos, or The Street of |
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the Ten Friends; the town was incorporated under the Republic of |
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Texas in 1839, and the first property taxes were assessed in 1843; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Ranching was the first major enterprise in the area, |
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and it brought in capital needed for development; commercial |
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ventures became successful, and paved streets were becoming common |
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in the late 1910s; by the end of World War II, Victoria had become |
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one of the fastest growing cities in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the city has a symphony orchestra, a fine |
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arts association, museums, libraries, and the National Zoo of |
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Texas, which is home to more than 150 native Texas animals and |
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plants; and |
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WHEREAS, Railroads, commercial airlines, and three major |
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highways make Victoria easily accessible to businesses; it is also |
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located on a barge canal that is connected to the Gulf Intracoastal |
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Waterway; as the Victoria County seat, the city serves as the |
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commercial center of this thriving area; and |
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WHEREAS, Victoria is home to excellent public schools, a |
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number of major employers, a university, and a community college; |
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the city offers first-rate medical care, and it is an inviting city |
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with an expanding economy; and |
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WHEREAS, The largest city in the "Golden Crescent Region," |
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Victoria serves as the health, education, government, and retail |
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service center for a seven-county market area with a population of |
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more than 200,000; the city thrives on the area's petrochemical |
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industry, oil and gas exploration, retail trade, and agriculture; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Combining big-city convenience and small-town |
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friendliness, Victoria offers a high quality of life, an exciting |
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art scene, and numerous commercial opportunities; this notable |
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Texas community is an excellent place in which to live, work, and |
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raise a family, and it is a pleasure to pay tribute to its many |
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exceptional achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 11, 2009, as Victoria Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the city residents |
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who have traveled to Austin to take part in this observance. |
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Morrison |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 279 was adopted by the House on |
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February 11, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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