Bill Text: TX HR1326 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing April 14, 2011, as Willacy County Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-04-21 - Reported enrolled [HR1326 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR1326-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 1326 |
|
||
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Willacy County are gathering at | ||
the State Capitol on April 14, 2011, to celebrate Willacy County | ||
Day, and this occasion provides a welcome opportunity to recognize | ||
the 100th anniversary of the county's founding; and | ||
WHEREAS, Located on the Gulf Coast in the Rio Grande Valley, | ||
Willacy County was formed in 1911 from parts of Cameron and Hidalgo | ||
Counties and also originally included the land that is now Kenedy | ||
County; it was named for state legislator John G. Willacy, who | ||
introduced the bill that established the county; and | ||
WHEREAS, Raymondville, the county seat and largest city, was | ||
established by Edward Burleson Raymond in 1904; it is home to the | ||
Raymondville Historical Museum and hosts a number of special events | ||
throughout the year, including the Willacy County Livestock Show, a | ||
Fourth of July celebration, and the Christmas Tree Lighting | ||
Ceremony and Christmas Parade; and | ||
WHEREAS, Lyford is named for William H. Lyford, an attorney | ||
for the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, and it rings in the | ||
holiday season with the annual Lyford Christmas Parade and | ||
Festival; farther east, the close-knit community of Santa Monica | ||
celebrates the annual Santa Monica Fest during the fall to benefit | ||
Santa Monica Catholic Church; and | ||
WHEREAS, A number of other communities are also named for | ||
prominent figures in the county's early history; Lasara was platted | ||
in 1924 and was named for Laura Harding and Sarah Gill, wives of | ||
early settlers William Harding and Lamar Gill, while San Perlita | ||
takes its name from Pyrle Johnson, the wife of the town developer; | ||
settled before 1906, Sebastian was first known as Stillman but was | ||
renamed around 1912 in honor of John Sebastian, vice president of | ||
the Rock Island Railroad Company, which helped to develop the area; | ||
other notable communities in the county include Los Coyotes, | ||
Porfirio, Port Mansfield, and Willamar; and | ||
WHEREAS, Young people in the area benefit from the dedicated | ||
efforts of the county's school districts, which include the | ||
Raymondville Independent School District, with more than 2,200 | ||
students, the Lyford Consolidated Independent School District, | ||
serving over 1,500 students, Lasara ISD, with an enrollment of | ||
nearly 400, and San Perlita ISD, with approximately 300 pupils; and | ||
WHEREAS, Willacy County residents are employed in a range of | ||
private-sector and government jobs, and the county's proximity to | ||
Mexico and six international bridges makes transportation and | ||
commercial trade central components of the local economy; and | ||
WHEREAS, Ecotourism and heritage tourism also generate | ||
employment and income; Willacy County's ranchlands and coastal | ||
habitats include a wide range of birds, mammals, wild grasses, | ||
trees, butterflies, and other species; the county has a | ||
well-developed hunting and fishing industry and is a premier | ||
destination for those seeking to experience the outdoors; "Wild in | ||
Willacy" is an annual event held the last week of October to promote | ||
awareness of the area's diverse natural offerings and includes | ||
tours of private ranches, lectures on birding, cook-offs, musical | ||
entertainment, and more; and | ||
WHEREAS, One of the hubs of tourism activity is Port | ||
Mansfield, which has unique bird-watching opportunities and is an | ||
extremely popular fishing center that hosts a well-known fishing | ||
tournament each year; the town's harbor office is run by the Willacy | ||
County Navigation District, which also oversees land leases and the | ||
county's small-craft airport; and | ||
WHEREAS, Willacy County's rich natural environment and its | ||
resourceful and productive citizenry make it a great place to live | ||
and work, and it is a pleasure to honor this South Texas county as it | ||
reflects on a century of growth and progress; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize April 14, 2011, as Willacy County Day | ||
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere | ||
best wishes for an enjoyable and rewarding visit to Austin. | ||
Lozano | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 1326 was adopted by the House on April | ||
14, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||