88R21987 CJM-D
 
  By: Johnson, Hall, West S.R. No. 402
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Mesquite are gathering in Austin
  on April 12, 2023, to celebrate Mesquite Day at the State Capitol;
  and
         WHEREAS, Located in Dallas and Kaufman Counties, Mesquite
  started as a depot town by the Texas and Pacific Railway in May
  1873; named after nearby Mesquite Creek, the city was officially
  incorporated on December 3, 1887, and it largely had an agrarian
  economy in its early days, growing cotton, hay, corn, and sugar; and
         WHEREAS, Today, Mesquite is a vibrant and diverse city with a
  population of some 152,000; part of the Dallas-Fort Worth
  metroplex, the town boasts a welcoming business environment
  facilitated by easy access to four major highways, the Mesquite
  Metro Airport, and the Union Pacific Intermodal; and
         WHEREAS, Local industry encompasses chemical products, food
  and beverage distribution, e-commerce, production technology, and
  creative products; the city also serves as a regional retail hub
  that is anchored by Town East Mall, and it is home to the Dallas
  Regional Medical Center and two of the largest furniture producers
  in the state, including Ashley Furniture Industries; in recent
  years, the company has embarked on an expansion that will
  ultimately result in a 1,577,000-square-foot regional
  manufacturing, distribution, and fulfillment center and more than
  300 additional jobs in Mesquite; and
         WHEREAS, The community benefits from the educational
  opportunities provided by the Mesquite Independent School District
  and the Dallas College Eastfield Campus; residents and visitors
  alike enjoy the recreational opportunities afforded by the Mesquite
  Golf Club as well as access to more than 70 public parks and 17 miles
  of public trails connecting to Dallas and Garland; the Mesquite
  Arts Center, which opened in December 1995, is a 36,700-square-foot
  arts facility that houses a music performance hall, black box
  theater, rehearsal hall, and galleries; and
         WHEREAS, In 1993, the 73rd Texas Legislature recognized
  Mesquite as the Rodeo Capital of Texas; each year, the city hosts
  the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, which was established in 1958 and
  has been recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
  with its Small Rodeo of the Year Award; moreover, the town boasts
  two professional sports teams, the Mesquite Outlaws and the Dallas
  Outlaws; and
         WHEREAS, The citizens of Mesquite take great pleasure in the
  city's high quality of life, and they continue to make vital
  contributions to the Lone Star State as they look forward to a
  promising future; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
  hereby recognize April 12, 2023, as Mesquite Day at the State
  Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.