SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 197

WHEREAS, Distinguished citizens of Irving are gathering on February 12, 2013, to celebrate Irving Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce is the first Five Star Chamber of Commerce in Texas and is committed to its vision of building an alliance of businesses and organizations in partnership with the community to empower healthy economic growth and enhance the quality of life for greater Irving; and

WHEREAS, Irving began its period of rapid growth in the mid-20th century; the Plymouth Park Shopping Center opened in 1955, the University of Dallas in 1956, and Irving Community Hospital in 1964; the creation of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and the creation of Las Colinas and Valley Ranch master-planned business and residential communities contributed further to the city's growth, and from 1971 to present, the city has been home to the headquarters of numerous major sports organizations: "America's Team"--the Dallas Cowboys, the Big 12 Conference, Conference USA, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, The City of Irving has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Places to Live in America by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, one of the Top 3 Tech-Startup Hubs in the United States by American Express, and one of the Happiest Cities for Young Professionals by NBC, and it is the 2012 recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award; it is only the second municipality in the nation to receive this award; and

WHEREAS, Today, with the first Five Star Chamber of Commerce in Texas and a population of more than 215,000, Irving boasts more than 8,500 companies, including the Fortune 500 global headquarters of ExxonMobil, Kimberly-Clark, the Commercial Metals Company, Flowserve Corporation, and the Fluor Corporation; more than 40 companies in the Fortune 500 have a presence in the city, and it is home to many other successful companies, including Kroger Stores, Research In Motion, AT&T, TXU Energy, HMS, Verizon, Microsoft, and ACE Cash Express; and

WHEREAS, Irving's educational and cultural resources make it a fine place to live and work; the University of Dallas and North Lake College and eight other institutions of higher education offer ample opportunities for higher education, and the city is home to the Irving Arts Center, as well as three symphony orchestras and two award-winning theater companies; and

WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike may delight in the gondolas at the Mandalay Canal and the stunning sculpture known as the Mustangs of Las Colinas, with its associated museum; Irving is also home to the headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America, and the National Scouting Museum tells the history of scouting and possesses the world's largest collection of original Norman Rockwell scouting artwork; the HP Byron Nelson Golf Championship is an annual PGA Tour event; and

WHEREAS, Benefiting greatly from the leadership of Mayor Beth Van Duyne, City Manager Tommy Gonzalez, and the members of the Irving City Council, Michael Gallaway, Roy Santoscoy, Dennis Webb, Brad LaMorgese, Rose Cannaday, Tom Spink, Gerald Farris, and Joe Putnam, Irving is a forward-looking and vibrant city, and its creative and hardworking citizens are to be commended for their contributions to the prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby recognize February 12, 2013, as Irving Day at the State Capitol and extend to the city's mayor, city council members, corporate executives, chamber representatives, and other citizens present sincere best wishes for a memorable stay in Austin; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of Irving Day at the State Capitol.

Carona, Hancock

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 12, 2013.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate