TITLE: Recognizing March 18, 2015, as Crystal City Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 18, 2015, as Crystal City Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
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