SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 385

WHEREAS, Proud residents of the city of Donna are gathering in Austin on April 10, 2025, to celebrate Donna Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Situated in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, Donna is located on land that was bequeathed to Lino Cabazos by the Mexican state of Tamaulipas in 1834, and members of the Cabazos family continued to live in the area over the ensuing decades; settlers from northern states began arriving at the turn of the 20th century; among them was Thomas Jefferson Hooks, who helped found the La Blanca Agricultural Company, which purchased 23,000 acres of land, and the town was founded in 1904; three years later, the community was named in honor of Donna Hooks Fletcher, the daughter of Mr. Hooks; and

WHEREAS, Donna was incorporated in 1908, the same year that its post office was established and its first store and sugar mill were constructed; by 1915, the town had a population of 1,500 residents, and in the decades that followed, it continued to develop into a major hub for vegetable and citrus crops; and

WHEREAS, Today, Donna is home to more than 16,000 people, and its economy is bolstered by the retail, educational services, and tourism industries in addition to agriculture; area youth benefit from the award-winning Donna Independent School District, which provides its students with the academic opportunities necessary to build a strong foundation for future success; and

WHEREAS, Donna is connected to Río Bravo, Tamaulipas, by an international bridge, which receives an average of 60,000 crossings a month; its location in a relatively uncongested portion of the border allows for efficient travel to and from Mexico, and officials are pursuing further improvements to the port of entry to facilitate transportation and trade; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of Donna have made many valuable contributions to the culture and economy of Texas, and they take justifiable pride in the rich heritage and unique amenities that make their city such a notable part of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, hereby recognize April 10, 2025, as Donna Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.

Hinojosa of Nueces

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 10, 2025.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate