TITLE: Recognizing March 6, 2025, as Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 6, 2025, as Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Residents of Jim Wells County are gathering at the State Capitol on March 6, 2025; and WHEREAS, A landscape of sweeping grasslands and wide horizons, the county's early inhabitants 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 key crops, as are hay, corn, and wheat; since the discovery of oil in the area in 1931, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction have emerged as the leading occupations of local residents; and WHEREAS, Notable communities in Jim Wells County include Orange Grove, Ben Bolt, Palito Blanco, Premont, Sandia, and La Gloria; the county seat, Alice, is a center for health care, with an outstanding medical facility, the CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice; 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; the area's distinctive history is showcased at the South Texas Museum, housed in the 1940s McGill Brothers Building; and WHEREAS, Jim Wells County benefits from the dedicated leadership of its elected officials, including county judge Pedro "Pete" Trevino Jr. and county commissioners George Aguilar, Ventura Garcia Jr., Renee Kirchoff Chapa, and Wicho Gonzalez; 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 89th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 6, 2025, as Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. Lozano Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 63 was adopted by the House on March 6, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House