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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of the Texas House of Representatives are |
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pleased to join with a delegation of citizens of Edinburg in |
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celebrating Edinburg Day at the State Capitol on February 8, 2007; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Long considered the gateway to the lower Rio Grande |
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Valley, Edinburg was originally known as Chapin when it became the |
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Hidalgo County seat nearly 100 years ago; it was a ranching |
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community in its early years, then the arrival of the railroad and |
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the introduction of irrigation in the early 20th century shifted |
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the emphasis of the local economy to the farming of cotton, grain, |
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and citrus; and |
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WHEREAS, Officially incorporated in 1919, Edinburg |
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experienced a period of growth and prosperity fostered by the |
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foresight of such city leaders as John Closner and W. F. Sprague; as |
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a thriving center for agricultural marketing and processing, |
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Edinburg experienced a building boom that included the construction |
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of the Grandview Hospital and the Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin |
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Elementary Schools, all of which still stand; and |
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WHEREAS, The educational needs of area students are capably |
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met by the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District; |
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encompassing 945 square miles, the district includes 27 elementary |
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schools, four middle schools, three high schools, and an |
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alternative campus; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1927 as Edinburg Junior College, The |
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University of Texas-Pan American remains one of the Valley's |
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premier institutions of higher learning; the university has |
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recently established a master's degree program in creative writing |
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in order to foster a new generation of South Texas writers; nearing |
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completion on campus is a $20 million Regional Academic Health |
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Center that will develop treatments for illnesses prevalent along |
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the Texas-Mexico border; the university's Wellness and Recreation |
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Sports Complex, encompassing more than 150,000 square feet, is |
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scheduled to open in August 2007, and a proposed fine arts facility |
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will include classrooms, practice rooms, and event space; and |
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WHEREAS, The Edinburg Children's Hospital has a 24-hour |
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pediatric emergency room; the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance |
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offers a full range of medical and surgical services; and the new |
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Women's Hospital at Renaissance, due to open in spring 2007, will be |
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able to handle the delivery of 8,000 babies a year; and |
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WHEREAS, The vibrant history and culture of the region are |
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highlighted by the Museum of South Texas History; the facility's |
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recent expansion includes the Rio Grande Legacy exhibit, tracing |
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the history of the Valley from prehistoric times to the 19th |
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century; further expansion of the museum will include the |
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continuation of the Rio Grande Legacy exhibit to the present day, as |
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well as the construction of the Will Looney Legacy Park; and |
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WHEREAS, Other Edinburg attractions include the 40-acre |
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wetlands of the World Birding Center, where waterfowl and native |
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plants can be viewed from winding trails and viewing platforms; |
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events such as the annual All-American 10K Run/Walk promote health |
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and fitness, attracting participants from all over Texas and the |
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world; Edinburg is also home to the Texas Cook'Em cook-off, where |
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grill cooks compete to prepare the best steaks, chicken, spare |
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ribs, and brisket; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Mayor Joe Ochoa and |
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city commissioners Gene Espinoza, Agustin G. Garcia, Noe Garza, and |
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Alma A. Garza, the city has experienced steady and positive growth, |
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and Edinburg has been recognized three times by the National Civic |
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League as an All-America City; and |
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WHEREAS, Proud of their rich history, the people of Edinburg |
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are determined to preserve the best of the city's past while joining |
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together to build a future full of hope and opportunity; and |
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WHEREAS, Representative Aaron Pena has justly recognized the |
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city of Edinburg by authoring this honorary resolution in its |
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behalf during the Regular Session of the 80th Texas Legislature; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 8, 2007, as Edinburg Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the delegation from |
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Edinburg. |
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Pena |
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Gonzales |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 266 was adopted by the House on |
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February 8, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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