SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 170

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize February 12, 2009, as Mission Day at the Capitol and to welcome the citizens of Mission who have traveled to Austin for this occasion; and

WHEREAS, The earliest settlers of the Mission area were the Native American Coahuiltecans, a name that refers to the indigenous people of 200 tribes who lived on both sides of the Rio Grande from the mouth of the Pecos River to the Gulf of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Over 200 years ago, the Spanish settled the vast area stretching from the Panuco River in Tampico, Mexico, to present-day Corpus Christi, Texas; in 1762, King Carlos III of Spain ordered a just and equal division of the territory, and in this process, porciones of land along the Rio Grande were established; Porciones 55 and 57 were the location of Rancho La Lomita, which became the site of the historic La Lomita Chapel; and

WHEREAS, Written records indicate that the site known as La Lomita was granted to Captain Cantu of Reynosa by a Spanish grant in 1767, and the land was eventually sold to Rene Guyard, who left the land to the Missionary Oblates of Mary; the priests of the Oblate order established the La Lomita Mission in 1824, and La Lomita Chapel was built in 1865; and

WHEREAS, In 1908, the Missouri Pacific Railroad established a railway station near the mission, and that same year, the City of Mission was founded; Mrs. Ann Voltz, who lived in the Madero area, suggested that the new town be named Mission after the La Lomita Mission; since 1908, the City of Mission has grown from a railroad stop to a thriving city; and

WHEREAS, An orange grove had been planted by the Oblate priests, and thus the Mission area became the locale of the first citrus trees to be planted in the Rio Grande Valley; Mission was designated the Lone Star State's Home of the Grapefruit by the 75th Texas Legislature; the citrus industry is a multimillion-dollar business that is celebrated annually during the Texas Citrus Fiesta; and

WHEREAS, Mission was immortalized in Larry McMurtry's novel and miniseries, Lonesome Dove, and its notable residents have included the late United States Senator and Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen and former United States Congressman Kika de la Garza; Mission was the childhood home of the late Coach Tom Landry; and

WHEREAS, The Mission area is now known for its birding and nature study opportunities provided by the city's nearby Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, site of the headquarters of the World Birding Center; and

WHEREAS, Mission will soon be the site of a new bridge across the Rio Grande; the Anzalduas Bridge will enhance cross-border trade by facilitating access to northern Mexico and is scheduled to open in October of 2009; and

WHEREAS, Mission Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity to honor the city's heritage and its charm and many amenities, which are enjoyed by residents and vacationers of all ages; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st Legislature, hereby join the citizens of Mission in paying tribute to their unique city and extend to them best wishes for an enjoyable Mission Day at the Capitol; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the residents of the City of Mission as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

Hinojosa

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 11, 2009.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate