TITLE: Recognizing February 7, 2017, as Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 7, 2017, as Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Residents of Jim Wells County are assembling at the State Capitol on February 7, 2017, to celebrate the importance of their home to the history of the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, A landscape of sweeping grasslands and wide horizons, the county's early inhabitants, the Chaguane and Payuguan tribes, enjoyed the region's mild winters and abundant game; after the first European settlement in 1754, at Penitas Creek, Mexican ranchers developed land grants into sheep and cattle ranches; in 1848 the region became part of the State of Texas, and it was formally incorporated as a county in 1911 and named after the prominent developer and attorney James B. Wells Jr.; and WHEREAS, With the arrival of the railroad in the 1870s, Alice became the most important livestock shipment junction in South Texas, and ranching has remained a mainstay of the county's economy ever since; cotton and sorghum are important crops, as are hay, corn, and wheat; the county seat, Alice is a center for health care, with an outstanding medical facility, the CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice, and since the discovery of oil in the area in 1931, the county has become one of the state's leaders in oil production; and WHEREAS, The Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame in Alice honors Tejano culture and recognizes the region as the birthplace of this popular musical genre; area culture is further showcased at the South Texas Museum, housed in the historic McGill Brothers Building in Alice, and the annual Fiesta Bandana, celebrating Cinco de Mayo, is a highlight of the county's cultural calendar; and WHEREAS, Celebrating their vibrant heritage as they embrace the opportunities of the future, the citizens of Jim Wells County are building on a long tradition of industry, achievement, and public spirit, and they are indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol and extend to its residents sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin. Lozano Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 131 was adopted by the House on February 7, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House