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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Edwards Abstract and Title Company is celebrating |
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its 135th anniversary in May 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, A leading title company in the Rio Grande Valley, |
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the firm was established in 1880 by Judge James Henry Edwards, who |
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played a key role in clearing land titles in Hidalgo and Starr |
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Counties; he spent many years gathering data for properties from |
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early settlers and old records, and he often visited the archives in |
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San Carlos, Mexico, to find missing heirs to Spanish land grants; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Edwards died in 1925, and his wife, L. S. |
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Edwards, incorporated the firm with her sons, James and Cecil |
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Edwards; the family continued to operate the company in Edinburg |
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until 1984, when they sold it to Jesse D. Hedrick; he expanded the |
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business, opening new locations in McAllen, Weslaco, Mission, and |
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Sharyland Plantation; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2001, Byron Jay Lewis purchased the company, and |
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he served as president before taking on the roles of board chair and |
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chief executive officer; he is also a founding partner in the law |
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firm of Lewis, Monroe, and Peña, which serves as counsel to the |
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company; today, Edwards Abstract and Title employs more than 80 |
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people at offices in Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen, |
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Mission, South Padre Island, and Weslaco; and |
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WHEREAS, Few businesses can claim a distinguished history |
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spanning well over a century, and it is indeed a pleasure to |
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recognize Edwards Abstract and Title Company as it marks this |
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significant milestone; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Edwards Abstract and Title Company |
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on its 135th anniversary and extend to all those associated with the |
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firm sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the company as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |