SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 115
         WHEREAS, Residents of the City of McAllen are gathering at
  the State Capitol on February 5, 2013, 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 Saint 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 four decades, McAllen has grown into
  a center for business, commerce, and government in the Rio Grande
  Valley, and it is part of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan
  statistical areas in the country; in 2012, Forbes magazine ranked
  McAllen as the top mid-sized city in the nation for jobs;
  CNN/Money in 2012 listed McAllen as one of the fastest-growing
  United States cities, and the United States Bureau of Labor
  Statistics ranked the city number one for job growth for 2012;
  such designations continue a trend of recognition for McAllen
  dating back to at least 1996, when it was named an All-American
  City; 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 vibrant cultural center, McAllen is home to the
  International Museum of Art and Science, which serves as a
  showcase for traveling exhibitions, loaned works from the
  Smithsonian Institution, and an extensive collection of Latin
  American folk art; the city's Arts District holds regular art
  walks, drawing thousands of art enthusiasts monthly; McAllen is
  also a regional hub for banking, shopping, and conventions,
  thanks to La Plaza Mall and a $75 million convention center; the
  city also recently opened a 123,000-square-foot public library;
  and
         WHEREAS, Tourists and residents alike enjoy such festive
  annual events as the Candlelight Posada, the Fourth of July
  Celebration, and PalmFest, and in 2012, the city celebrated its
  fifth annual New Year's Eve bash, a free, community-wide event;
  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 is celebrating its 102nd anniversary as a
  municipality this year; now, therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd
  Legislature, hereby recognize February 5, 2013, 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 5, 2013.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate