TITLE: Recognizing March 1, 2017, as Grand Prairie Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 1, 2017, as Grand Prairie Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Grand Prairie are gathering in Austin on March 1, 2017, to celebrate Grand Prairie Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Founded during the Civil War and originally known as Deckman, the city was renamed Grand Prairie in the 1870s, and the Texas and Pacific Railway was built to the site in 1876; by 1890 the community boasted a public school, a steam gristmill-cotton gin, a broom factory, and a wagon factory; in 1928, Hensley Field was built just two miles east of Grand Prairie, and the field became the hub for area army operations; and WHEREAS, Grand Prairie experienced a substantial boom during World War II, when a military flight training center and an aircraft production factory were built nearby, raising the city's population from 1,600 to 18,000; and WHEREAS, Today, Grand Prairie continues to grow, with more than 187,000 residents and a wide range of industry and commerce; located in the heart of the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, the city has been nationally ranked by WalletHub as the 13th best city for families, the 30th best city for jobs, and the 18th best city in Texas for Hispanic entrepreneurs, and Forbes named it one of the best places to retire in the United States; additionally, the Grand Prairie Fire Department has achieved the coveted ISO 1 rating, and according to the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety, Grand Prairie is the 8th safest major city in Texas with a population over 100,000; and WHEREAS, Grand Prairie appeals to visitors and residents alike, and each year nearly 10 million people enjoy such attractions as Lone Star Park, Verizon Theatre, and Uptown Theater, as well as popular annual events, including the Prairie Dog Chili Cookoff, the Prairie Lights Christmas display, and the National Championship Indian Pow Wow; moreover, there are ample opportunities for recreation at scenic Joe Pool Lake, Mountain Creek Lake, and Lynn Creek and Loyd Parks; and WHEREAS, Grand Prairie's excellent location and numerous amenities make it an ideal community in which to live and work, and its citizens may indeed take great pride in their contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2017, as Grand Prairie Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for an enjoyable day in Austin. Anderson of Dallas 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. 678 was adopted by the House on March 1, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House