SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 143
         WHEREAS, Residents of the City of McAllen are gathering at
  the State Capitol on February 10, 2009, to celebrate their
  community's contributions to the vitality of the Lone Star State;
  and
 
         WHEREAS, The development of present-day McAllen began in
  1797 when Spanish settler Jose Manuel Gomez founded the Santa
  Anita Ranch in southern Hidalgo County; the ranch grew in size
  and, after passing through the hands of several heirs, it was
  inherited by his great-granddaughter, Salome Balli; Salome
  married John McAllen, and 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, and a year later,
  the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railroad arrived; other
  developers founded East McAllen in 1907, and the two towns
  eventually merged and became home to several businesses,
  churches, residences, and a newspaper; by 1920, the city's
  population exceeded 5,000 residents and was continuing to grow;
  and
 
         WHEREAS, Over the last three decades, McAllen has grown
  into a center for business, commerce, and government in the Rio
  Grande Valley, and it is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan
  statistical areas in the country; in 2001, McAllen was ranked as
  one of the top 25 best places to do business in the United States
  by Forbes Magazine and it was named number one in mid-size cities
  for growth and development in the South by Southern Business
  Magazine; and
 
         WHEREAS, The unique landscape of the Rio Grande Valley
  offers rich soil for farming and a hospitable environment for
  cultivating citrus fruits, cotton, sugarcane, and many other
  crops and vegetables; and
 
         WHEREAS, A center of cultural attractions, 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; the city is also a regional banking, retail,
  and convention hub with La Plaza mall and the new $75 million
  convention center; and
 
         WHEREAS, Tourists and residents alike enjoy festive annual
  events, such as the Candlelight Posada, the Fourth of July
  festival, PalmFest, and the Texas Square Dance Jamboree; McAllen
  was named an All-America City in 1996, and in 2008, McAllen
  celebrated the first annual Drop the Ball New Year's Eve Bash, a
  free, community-wide event that promises to provide an exciting
  New Year's Eve option for residents throughout the Valley for
  years to come; 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
  Legislature, hereby recognize February 10, 2009, as McAllen Day
  at the State Capitol and extend to all McAllen residents who are
  present on this day sincere best wishes for a memorable visit to
  Austin.
 
  Hinojosa, Lucio
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on February 10, 2009.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate