Bill Text: TX HR921 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing March 18, 2015, as Crystal City Day at the State Capitol.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-24 - Reported enrolled [HR921 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR921-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 921 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Proud residents of Crystal City are gathering in | ||
| Austin on March 18, 2015, to celebrate Crystal City Day at the State | ||
| Capitol; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Situated in the Winter Garden Region of South Texas, | ||
| Crystal City was laid out in 1905 by two developers, Carl F. Groos | ||
| and E. J. Buckingham, and named for the clear waters of a nearby | ||
| artesian well; by 1908, the town had a post office, a school, and a | ||
| stop on the Uvalde Railway, and in 1928, it was named the seat of | ||
| Zavala County; and | ||
| WHEREAS, From its earliest days, Crystal City was a shipping | ||
| point for winter vegetables such as onions, carrots, tomatoes, and | ||
| peppers; a vegetable cannery was opened in 1932, and the town became | ||
| known as the Spinach Capital of the World; the first spinach | ||
| festival was held in 1936 and ran each year until World War II; in | ||
| 1937, the town erected a statue of Popeye, the spinach-loving | ||
| cartoon character, across the street from city hall; and | ||
| WHEREAS, During World War II, the Immigration and | ||
| Naturalization Service took over a camp for migratory farm workers | ||
| at Crystal City and used the facility to intern Japanese Americans | ||
| and Axis nationals, many of whom had been residing in various South | ||
| American countries; at its peak, the camp held more than 3,300 men, | ||
| women, and children speaking five different languages; the camp was | ||
| converted to low-cost housing after the war; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The rising power of Crystal City's majority Hispanic | ||
| population in the 1960s helped increase their representation in | ||
| city government; in 1967, three Chicano students at Crystal City | ||
| High School founded the Mexican American Youth Organization, | ||
| leading three years later to the founding of the Raza Unida Party; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Today, Crystal City continues to be a hub for | ||
| farming, ranching, and food processing, with the Del Monte | ||
| Corporation cannery specializing in locally produced spinach and | ||
| carrots, and the Spinach Festival, which was revived in 1982, draws | ||
| visitors from around the country with such activities as a | ||
| cook-off, a carnival and parade, and musical performances; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The mayor and city council members are together | ||
| leading efforts for infrastructure renewal, and recent successful | ||
| initiatives include road, water, and lighting upgrades; the town | ||
| has also made improvements at its popular Juan Garcia Park, adding a | ||
| ranch rodeo arena, a swimming pool complex, new basketball courts, | ||
| and wheelchair-accessible restrooms; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The citizens of Crystal City are working to preserve | ||
| the best of their past while building a future of ever-expanding | ||
| opportunity, and it is indeed most fitting to honor them for their | ||
| industry and public spirit; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize March 18, 2015, as Crystal City Day at | ||
| the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere | ||
| best wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin. | ||
| King of Uvalde | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 921 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 18, 2015, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
