Decade 1990 to 1999

Development

1990 The population is listed at 48,735 from one source, 43,325 in another.

1991 In a major tourism loss to the city, the Confederate Air Force organization headquartered in Harlingen departs its Harlingen Airport base for Midland, TX which has offered it a $1 million facility/museum.

11/1/92 The Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios opens. The $40 million project was funded ¼ each by San Benito and Harlingen and ½ by Cameron County. Over time a 750 acre industrial park will develop at the foot of the bridge on the U.S. side. The land is primarily owned by the Uhlhorn family and is being managed by Tudor Uhlhorn.

1992 Harlingen is designated an All-America City by the National Civic League. It is one of ten such cities in the whole country selected for being the most innovative and progressive.

3/1993 The Rio Valley Switching Company, a subsidiary of Ironhorse Resources, Inc. of O'Fallon, Illinois, takes control of the Fordyce train route from Union Pacific. The parent firm specializes in short line railroads. Connecting with the Union Pacific at Harlingen this Class III line runs daily service 41 miles west to McAllen where it then has connections to Edinburg and the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone. Primarily serving Hidalgo County it handles about 8,000 cars a year, all of them rerouted at Harlingen.

1994 A Ronald McDonald House is planned on Treasure Hills Blvd. near the Valley Baptist Hospital which has donated the land. It will house parents and relatives of children receiving treatment at the hospital. In 2/98 the $800,000 facility is completed. The six bedroom complex averages a stay of 9-10 days and the charge is $10/night. In a four-year period 620 families will be accommodated.

6/96 Construction Phase 3 was underway in the creation of the four floor East Tower of the Valley Baptist Medical Center. It will have a heliport on its roof. The $30 million construction project of 250,000 sq. ft. will have an emergency department, outpatient services, women's care, day surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, and central sterile supply. Nearby two other hospital facilities are arising. One is the Family Practice Residency Clinic and Center. In it family practice residents (to start July 1996) will provide primary medical care. Dr. Bruce Liebert is director of the program. Adjacent to it is the free- standing Outpatient Rehab Center to be operated as a partnership between the VBMC and the Institute for Rehabilitation and Research.

Agriculture/Ranching

1990 Tommy R. Funk, Sr. of Harlingen serves as Chairman of the National Cotton Council.

1992 Mexico first goes into deficit in providing the annual 350,000 acre feet of Rio Grande River water to the but has a five year period to comply. By 1992-97 the deficit rises to over one million and then by 2002 to 1.5 million acre feet. Valley farmers are stressed for available water as the physical drought continues and proves worse than the early 1950's one. It will not be before 9/05 that Mexico drops its deficit to 100,000 acre feet.

1995 The 74th Texas Legislature establishes Section 49 of the Texas Water Code and this section now applies to the operations of the Harlingen Irrigation District.

2/98 Templeton University, Stephenville, TX researchers publish the results of their study to reduce pollution of the Arroyo Colorado. It is titled "Prediction of Effects of Best Management Practices on Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Arroyo Colorado Watershed."

9/1/99 The Harlingen Water District initiates a Water Conservation Policy. At this time it has three reservoirs. The Rangerville Reservoir at 61 feet elevation above sea level, and the highest point in the District, stores 500 acre feet of water. The Boggus Reservoir has a capacity of 160 acre feet and supplies 1,500 acres while the McLeod-Hood Reservoir has a capacity of 280 acre feet to service 2,500 acres. The District also maintains 140 miles of drain ditches that divert flood waters to the Arroyo Colorado or to the drainage district to the east. The District operates at an efficiency level of 85%.

Government/Politics-City, County, State, National

1990 City of Harlingen Fire Station #7 with a value of $382,160 is erected at 1102 Dixieland Road.

1991 The Harlingen Sports Complex at 3139 Wilson Road is established. It features multiple fields with night lights. A Rio Fest warehouse is built at 1401 Wichita. Starting this year and running into 1993 the Municipal Auditorium is update. This includes seating, acoustics, dressing rooms, curtains, toilets etc. A new entrance and Mediteranean façade connect it to the Casa de Amistad. 4/91 This month flooding of the Arroyo Colorado destroys half of the dry cargo dock at the Port of Harlingen. Three years later some of the $1.6 million accrued navigation district tax money is used to effect rebuilding. 4/5/91 Texas U.S. Senator John Tower dies in an airplane crash in Georgia.

1992 The North American Free Trade Alliance (NAFTA) is signed by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to go into effect 1/1/94. This treaty will change the area's economics forever. The Rio Grande Valley Museum gets a facelift with a new reception/exhibition building to front the complex. This 8,000 square foot facility is valued at $640,000 in 2002. 1992 (summer) A new, large, main U.S. Post Office is erected at 1502 New Combes Highway near 77 Sunshine Strip. It has a substantial parking area. 10/3/92 By 34 votes, 12,241 to 12, 207, Lawyer Jim Solis defeats incumbent Ken Fleuret for District 38 state representative seat. In 2004 he will have for his eighth consecutive term. In this same election, City Commissioner James Matz running for County Commissioner defeated 28 year veteran commissioner Adolf Thomae, Jr. of San Benito.

1992-93 The Harlingen Municipal Auditorium and adjacent Casa de Amistad receive major renovations and modernization including a unifying façade which enlarges their entrances. In the auditorium there is a reduction in seating to 2,200 padded ones. The acoustics are greatly improved as are the dressing rooms. The lobby is much enlarged. City government officials leading this effort are Mayor H. William Card and Commissioners Nat Lopez, Donna P. Bonner, Jessie Robles, John T. Garrett, and Dr. James R. Rowe. A. Brent Branham is city manager, Peacock Construction is the general contractor, and Gignac and Associates are architects.

1993 Toll revenues of the Free Trade Bridge for the 92/93 fiscal year are only $334,192 in its first year of operation. City of Harlingen Fire Station # 8 with a value of $717,920 at 361 East Grimes is erected. The Federal Government opens the Armed Forces Reserve Training Center at the corner of Fair Park Blvd. and North Teege Avenue. The three-building complex replaces the McKelvey training facility on E. Washington. 1/93 Attorney Jim Solis takes a seat in the state legislature as area representative. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Pan American University and a law degree from Texas Southern University. By the time he is seated for the sixth time in 2005 he and his wife Diana will have Jim "Trey" III and Diego Andres. City of Harlingen's new warehouse complex comes up at 404 South 54th Street. It consists of a vehicle maintenance building, warehouse, office and fueling station together with covered parking. Its total value is $2,465,200 for the 45,335 square foot facility. 2/15/93 The new public library at 410 '76 Drive opens with its two story Spanish style architecture. Construction by the Peacock Construction Co. had started on it in 10/91. Labunski Associates Architects was the contracted architectural firm. The $4 million building was designed by Rick Labunski of Harlingen and Bill Hidell of Dallas. With its 45,000 square feet it has twice the space of the old facility. It also has 158 parking spaces, a computer lab, two meeting rooms, and an auditorium. Donations totaling more than $200,000 will allow the purchase of 10,000 new books. It will have the capacity for 176,000 volumes compared to the 80,000 at present. Library director Maurice Tsai welcomed 4,000 visitors the first day. 3/393 Jim Scheopner becomes police chief and will hold this position until 2/4/99.

1994 The Parks and Recreation Department commences its entertainment series bringing professional theater productions to the city. Shows are grouped into the Starlight Series, Encore Series, and Children's Classic Series. 1/1/94 The North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect.

6/95 Most of the projects started after the 1990 bond issue passed are complete but on average have cost over that approved. The library budgeted at $3.95 million originally ended up 11% over at $4,366,507 due to design changes and escalating material costs. All bond projects, now 90% complete, approach a cost of $22 million or 20% more than 1990 projections. The auditorium budgeted at $1.45 million ran $1.88, two fire stations at $935,000 ran $1.27 million, the museum at $500,200 ran $665,000, and streets at $5.9 million ran $8 million.

1996 The city tax rate is raised from 46.8 to 49.5 cents per $100. On 9/25/97 the city's 3 cent tax increase to 52.5 cents /100 is the largest year jump in a decade and in 1998 goes to 54.1. Natalie Flores Prim is city manager. 11/96 Rubén Hinojosa, a Democrat, is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time. This executive of the H & H Meat Company, Mercedes will represent the 15th Congressional District, including parts of Harlingen, for four terms. In 2004 the district will have been gerrymandered by the Republican controlled Texas legislature. 12/9/96 Jacinta Leal retires from the library after 47 years service. She had commenced working when the library was still in the small annex of the Woman's Club on Madison.

1997 The city's Animal Shelter at 1106 Markowski Street is dedicated. This 5,028 sq.ft. facility is valued at $402,240. It is staffed by members of the Humane Society. It is to supplant the 2,304 sq.ft.1977 shelter at 902 E. Taft having a value of $115,200. 2/8/97 John Cleary resigns after seven years as director of the Downtown Improvement District to go to Lockhart. The deteriorating downtown was vastly improved thanks to his efforts.

1998 Connie de la Garza, a real estate broker, becomes the 2nd Mayor with Hispanic background and serves into 2004.

1/99 Police Chief Jim Scheopner resigns under a cloud of controversy involving the loan of a confiscated MK90 assault rifle to Harlingen police officer Ralph D. Moore of San Benito and its subsequent use by his son in the killing of two Border Patrol agents assisting in the pursuit of him on 7/7/98. The families of Susan L. Rodriguez and Ricardo G. Salinas and others later bring suit against the city of Harlingen. Scheopner, who was chief for 5 ½ years, returns to his former patrolman position. He has worked in the department for 26 years. 7/99 Forty-two year old Victor Rodriguez is hired as police chief. He is the first Hispanic to hold this job. This Brownsville native has along background in law enforcement including a criminal justice degree from Pan American University, 17 years service with the Brownsville Police Department and his rise in it to chief at age 32. In 1995 he is appointed chairman of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles by Governor George Bush. On November 12, 1999 Rodriguez is to leave the Harlingen position to become Director of the Paroles Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice then leaves to assume the position of McAllen police chief in 2001. 1999 City Fire Station #3, 101 Loop 499, is erected as a command center. It is valued at $858,800. 1999 The 15,860 square foot Sewer Transfer Station with a value of $1,348,000 is constructed at, 4900 E. Harrison. The Public Library is operating on a budget of $868,846 and expending $136, 907 of this on library material. It has 30,173 resident card holders and 2,515 nonresident. Its staff consists of 4 professionals, 15 full time, and 7 part-time plus volunteers who in 1998 contributed 4,973 hours. At this time the library has 124,412 total volumes in its 200,000 capacity, subscribes to 314 periodicals, and has 85,566 microform units. Circulation and in-house transactions were 235,635 together with 97,553 reference transactions. Pendleton Park has new courts and Little League fields. 12/29/99 U.S. Border Patrol facility at 3902 S. Expressway 77 is dedicated. It is a 48,000 square foot building built by Humberto Zamora's Pinewood Co. for lease to the government.

Business/Commercial/Industrial

1990 The Valley Greyhound Park featuring pari-mutuel betting opens. Located south of Ed Carey Drive on FM 801 it has a 1,500 seat grandstand, 400 television monitors, and 100 betting windows. It will close in 1995 then reopen with new owners in 2000. 1990s By early in this decade Gorges Ready-cut Meats have amassed annual sales of $55 million. In 1994 the company, owned and run by father Walt and son Matt Gorges, will be sold to Tyson Foods, the giant Arkansas-based firm. In April 1995 Matt Gorges will open Valley International Cold Storage at 206 N. Loop 590 near the airport. The 190,000 square-foot facility warehouses frozen products for 60 U.S. companies. It processes 400,000 lbs. of food items a week and has the capacity to store 28 million lbs. of goods. VICS's division, Express Food Pac, sorts and bags frozen fruit, vegetables and shrimp customized to buyer specifications. The plant employs 150 people. In December 2004 Matt Gorges is to be inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame. It was in 1982 and 1994 that Gorges and his wife Patty establish the St. Anthony's Endowment Fund, the Gorges Foundation, and the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville Fund. They are also strong library supporters.

1991 TADIM opens its Harlingen facility at 5602 E. Harrison. It is a plastics injection molding company. Later its name changes to LDM Technologies. By 2003 it employs 105 people at its leased facility. On 8/222/03 it announces that it will close its Harlingen shop on which it will lose its lease and relocate to McAllen where it owns its building. The company, which makes small parts for the U.S. automobile industry, mostly for seat belt assemblies, is set to close here 1/04.

5/29/94 Chartered RGV White Wings of the professional baseball team of the Texas- Louisiana League, which is later to become the Central Baseball League, plays its initial game. 5,000 attend but over the years attendance lags. By 2002 the team is $220,000 in the red. The Harlingen team is to be in the bottom of league attendance from 1995. The franchise manages an average of only 1,200-1,600 attendees per game over 10 years. In 1998 because of cash flow problems the league is sold to the Chicago-based Chen Sports Group. This group also owns the Central Hockey League which will place the Killer Bees in the Dodge Arena to be built in Hidalgo. The baseball players receive under $3,800 for a four month season. In December 2003 league owners threaten to close the Harlingen operation unless local business men come to the rescue. The latter don't and professional baseball here folds.

5/4/95 San Benito Bank and Trust, later to become Coastal Banc, has its grand opening in the old central Harlingen Post Office on Van Buren. Normah Knight's mural is preserved. It is this year that the 7-Eleven convenience stores in the Valley have a name change. SSP Partners, which licensed the 7-Eleven name in the region, switched to the Circle K brand.

6/26/96 Albertson's, a major national food retailer based in California announces plans to open a Harlingen store. A large and beautiful structure No. 4077 with 56,000 sq.ft. is built near Ed Carey at 2222 S.77 Sunshine Strip in a new mall area. By 2002 H-E-B has apparently driven its competitor not only of Harlingen but other cities across the Valley. Through 2006, the property listed at $2.7 million had found no buyers though Albertson is said to have invested $5 million for the land and building. 11/96 Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines begins to serve Winter Texans of the mid-west with direct flights to Harlingen. It will serve VIA seasonally from November through April. For a time after the 9/11 terrorist attack it will pull out of the market but resume by 2003. It sets records for passengers carried when it goes to five flights a week in 2004. By November 2006 it marks its 10th anniversary with the local airport scheduling three round-trip flights per week and four during the holiday season.

1996-97 Tichenor Media System merges with Heftel Broadcasting Corp. and by 1999 changes name to Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. (HBC). In 2004 HBC merged with Univision communicatios. McHenry Tichenor, who was born 12/21/97 in Morganfield, KY, is to die at age 98 just before 10/25/96. Starting with one radio station in 1940, he grew the company to 20 stations at the time of his death. Here he founded KGBT AM, KELT FM, and KGBT-TV 4. This Baptist left his son Mac as his heir. McHenry (Mac) Taylor Tichenor Sr., while born in Boulder, CO, grew up in Harlingen. He received a BBA degree from UT and after serving in the Navy during the Korean conflict returned there to earn a law degree. He would marry in 1954 and have four sons with his first wife and another son with his second wife. In 1956 he worked at various capacities for KGBT. In 1967 at the age of 35, he would become president of Tichenor Media System and oversee its great expansion including its growth to a 38-radio station Hispanic group. In his latter years he was involved in quiet philanthropy. Dying in Round Rock, TX at age 76 on 1/3/09 he was brought home to rest in the Mont Meta Memorial Park, San Benito. His five sons with numerous grandchildren survived him as well as a devoted companion. 1997 John A. Lairsen, grandson of M.P. Lairsen and son of clothes merchant Ron Lairsen, purchases Abagail's Clothing Co. on Harrison from Lois McLelland. Purchasing a lot a few blocks away he builds a new store and closes Abagail's in the winter of 2001, later opening the J. Lairsen Clothing Co., 118 E. Harrison, in April 2002, but it closes within two years.

1998 Favelle Favco, a subsidiary of Mihibbah Engineering Group (Malaysia) opens manufacturing plant on FM 106 near Port Harlingen. The company fabricates giant construction cranes and Manitex offshore cranes. The company's cranes have been used in the construction of nine of the ten of the world's tallest buildings. Full operation starts here in 2000. Emilio's Steakhouse, owned by Emilio Garza, opens at 502 S.77 Sunshine Strip in a beautifully renovated structure at 502 S. 77 Sunshine Strip. It is a pricey restaurant, seemingly doing well, but it closes for business 4/3/04. It becomes the Bella Luna Event Center. Garza then tears down the old cottage housing Tony's Que Pasta Restaurant and constructs an upscale bar on the lot. It is this year that Freddy Elizondo, whose father Freddy was a well-known mid-Valley farmer and later employee of the State Employee Commission, opens his Trinity Funeral Home on South F Street. In 2004 he will open his Santa Rosa Funeral Home to serve that community. It is in December 2004 that he relocates his Trinity Funeral Chapels to the attractive former premises of Kreidler-Ashcraft on East Harrison. It had ceased doing business after half a century here. His wife Margaret, a retired Santa Rosa School teacher, serves as bookkeeper for the business. His son Lenny, a 1993 graduate of Harlingen High School and certified as a licensed funeral director by the Commonwealth Institute, assists his father. Lenny's wife, April, handles vital statistics and death certificates.

1999 The Dial Dunkin family, owners of the Harlingen National Bank, sell it to the Texas State Bank Corp. At a court house auction Gene and Bettye Estillette buy the Treasure Hills Country Club with its 320 acres. They owned Cottonwood Estates and course on S. Ed Carey Drive. Opening its doors this year at 1209 Industrial Way is Gibbs Die Casting Corp., headquartered in Henderson, KY and with plants in four foreign countries. It will eventually employ 67 permanent and 37 temporary workers. It manufactures tool and die- castings for auto parts. On 11/29/07 it announces plans to consolidate its operations and close the Harlingen factory by February 2008. This is due to its decreasing market share and slow American auto sales.

People

10/19/90 Eustacia Dabney "Sunshine" Hill Caul dies at age 92.

3/97 Marshall Heiff Applewhite, once picked up by the Harlingen police, commits suicide as leader of Heaven's Gate cult. Thirty-eight others die with him at Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego, CA.

12/14/98 Melba Maurice Fisher is to die this date at age 76. Born in San Antonio she was a lifelong Harlingen resident. This co-owner of the Rainbow Nursery was active in the RGV Art League, the Harlingen Art League, Harlingen cultural Arts Center, and St. Albans Church. She left behind her husband Davey M. Fisher, Jr. and daughter Maylee (Mimi) Wilds Willman. 1/3/99 Minnie Carpenter Gilbert celebrates her 99th birthday. As a nine year old she came with her parents from Oklahoma to Runn, south of Donna. After the flooding of 1909 the family moved to San Benito in 1910. She attended UT in the 1920s. Minnie then began her newspaper career working for the San Benito News, Brownsville Herald and the Harlingen Star which became the . During WWII she was city editor of the latter. She retired in 1971 but devoted herself to preserving Valley history. She authored/edited Gift of the Rio, Roots by the River, and Rio Grande Round-up. She was founder and first president of the Valley By-Liners.

Education

1990 A group of concerned business people in the community form the Harlingen Area Education Foundation. Over a sixteen year period it will grow to encompass New Directions, a leadership, tutoring, and mentoring program for high school students in danger of not completing high school; New Directions, a similar program for middle school students; Texas Scholars, a curriculum improvement program that requires 24 graduation credits in college entry subjects; and Technology Academies dealing with computer literacy. The Foundation is financially supported by Harlingen businesses and individuals. This school year the three junior high schools educate 7th and 8th graders. The former Alamo Junior High School becomes Harlingen South High School. With a growing population in the Primera area, additions are made to the Wilson School. Lubunski Associates are the architects and Peacock Construction does the work. Dr. T. Carl McMillan is superintendent of schools and Ruben Pena is president of the School Board.

9/91 By an act of the 72nd legislature the Texas State Institute-Harlingen becomes the Texas State Technical College-Harlingen. Its Harlingen campus library holds 16,000 books. It has a faculty of 141 for 2,623 enrolled students. 8/91 The HCISD opens the KEYS Academy on North 7th Street near Loop 499. It is a non-traditional school for at-risk students. In 1994 Yolanda Gutierrez becomes its principal. 1991 This year the Texas Youth Commission facility called Valley House is reopened at its new site and in a new building at 1438 N. Sunshine Strip. In 2003 it is renamed Tamayo House in honor of long time educator Edna Tamayo who will commence serving on the Cameron County Commission in 2000.

1993 (fall) The first "Bird Bowl" football game is played as the new Harlingen High School South Hawks play the Harlingen High School Cardinals. In May 1994 Harlingen High South graduates its first class of seniors. 9/98 The Valley High School, a private charter school, opens at 2701 Breedlove Street. It crafts its mission at "high risk" students with histories of low academic scores. In November 2002 the State threatens its closure due to its poor performance and higher than allowed dropout rate for its 300 elementary, 30 middle school, and 150 high school students.

1993 The Harlingen CISD initiates the New Pathways Center. Its motto is "Guiding One Child at a Time." At its 208 South F Street campus, it offers services to elementary students who may struggle with disciplinary problems at their regular campus. Dr. Mary Brower will be its principal and director for at least its first ten years.

1994 An alternative disciplinary school for problem secondary students opens on F Street, but two years later the Secondary Educational Alternative Center is opened at 1310 Sam Houston. Pupils in need of strict control may be placed in the school for periods ranging from five to forty five days. The motto of the school is "Attitude is Everything." Javier Gutierrez has been with the school for 10 years; by 2005 he is Assistant Director, Liaison. For the 1994-95 school year Harlingen High School becomes a four grade (9th to 12th) campus.

3/95 Dr. Jesus Honorio Chavez is named the new superintendent of schools. He comes from Round Rock where he was assistant superintendent of schools. He was born in Brownsville and for a time taught there. He replaces James Smith who left for a position in Houston. Dr. Chavez will serve until 2001 when he leaves for a similar position in Corpus Christi. His successor is Dr. Linda Wade.

11/13/96 The School Board names the new middle school on Wilson Road the Lt. George Gutierrez Jr. Middle School. This individual graduated from Harlingen High School and Texas A&M University with a degree in civil engineering. Enlisting in the army in 1964, this pilot died October 1965 in action in Vietnam. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. Diaz Park in West Harlingen was also renamed in his honor. 11/96 Texas Monthly in its cover article "Our Best Schools"(elementary) names Harlingen Long, Wilson, Treasure Hills and Stuart Place as four-star, the highest ranking.

5/25/97 Guillermo "Mr. Rod" Rodriguez, principal of Memorial Junior High School retires. This quiet gentleman was much loved by students and teachers alike. 6/18/97 JoAnn Cleckler ,assistant principal of Ben Milam School and originally a Michigan native, retires. She began her 45 year teaching career several years after coming here in 1950 as a 19-year old. In the 1997-98 school year 6th graders now become part of the middle schools.

1998 The Valley Baptist Academy, a boarding school in its 51st year, initiates a day middle and high school to meet local needs. Known as the Harlingen Christian Academy it enrolls over 175 students. The Valley Baptist Missions Education Center under Dr. Robert M. Manley, Jr. is located at 3700 E. Harrison. 4/26/98 At the Vernon Middle School a $1.36 million gym is going up to replace the 1939 "the Barn" gymnasium. At Zavala, Dishman, Bonham, and Milam Elementary Schools older classrooms are being renovated as part of a $5.415 million upgrading project. The district has invested $58 million in expansion and improvement projects since 1989 in order to serve the now 16,000 students coming from Harlingen and Combes, Primera, Palm Valley, and Stuart Place as well. 9/98 The Valley High School, a private charter school, opens at 2701 Breedlove Street. It crafts its mission at "high risk" students with histories of low academic scores. In November 2002 the State threatens its closure due to its poor performance and higher than allowed dropout rate for its 300 elementary, 30 middle school, and 150 high school students.

1999 The HCISD tax goes up 10 cents as voters pass an $80 million bond issue for the HCISD, but use of the monies is not implemented until 2002-03. Projects include athletic field houses, performing arts building and expansion of current and existing classrooms. Each of the two high schools will have new soccer dimension stadiums with bleachers on each side, press box, restroom facilities, and concession stands. Harlingen HS South's field will be constructed on Dixieland Road and Harlingen HS on an open field located south of Keys Academy. The new athletic field houses at each school will occupy 16,000 square feet. Approximately 42,000 square feet will be added to each school at the cost of $21 million. Boggus Stadium will also be improved. By 2/05 projects on 21 campuses are still on-going and the costs of construction are $98,809,000, well over the original bond issue amount. In this year St. Paul Lutheran School has obtained the former Army Reserve Center at 1920 E. Washington. It is given the property by the Federal government as it has been declared surplus but with the stipulation that it has to be used for educational purposes for a period of 30 years. It is completely renovated and 40% new construction added along with a full-size gymnasium. It opened for school on 10/9/99. The facility has modern classrooms, fully equipped science laboratory, art room, and music room. It has been part of the educational system operated by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Religious

1991 The First Baptist Church opens the new larger Family Life Center having recreational facilities such as a full gym, and classrooms. The Stack Building will be remodeled to provide a large dining room, an adequate kitchen, and classrooms. In August 1997 it is to remodel the sanctuary as well as parts of the Worship Center. The mission-minded church supported missions that became these churches: Second Baptist Church, Primera Iglesia Bautista, Fairview Chapel, and Los Vecinos, while in this year its missions were Arroyo Chapel at Arroyo City, and Parkdale Deaf Church.

1998 On its 75th anniversary, St. Paul Lutheran has 538 baptized souls and 440 communicants. Its school has an enrollment of 95 and its Early Childhood Educational Center 62.

Organizations

1990 With Harlingen as its headquarter, the South Texas Chorale is organized. Dianne Brumley, formerly chorus director with the school system, becomes its conductor and is continuing as such through its 14th season in 2004-05. This same year Keep Harlingen Beautiful is organized. It's aims are to promote recycling at the City's Recycling Center on South Commerce Street and use the proceeds to for beautification projects. It will also be involved in pick-up litter drives. James Matz is one of its organizers. 1993 The Harlingen Pan American Golf Association commences offering a minimum two college scholarships a year. Up to 2009 the organization will have provided over $15,000 in scholarship funds.

1995 The Rio Grande Council (Boy Scouts) conduct the first annual winter camp at Camp Charles F. Perry.

9/20/97 The Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre on Fair Park Blvd. opens. With its 275 seat capacity this non-profit private community theater is suitable for small to moderate size theatrical performances and recitals. Prime movers in making this endeavor a success are Matt (he was chairman of the board) and Patty Gorges, Brownsville lawyer William Rentfro, Bob and Lynn Murphy, and Robin Farris among others. The $1.3 million structure was in part financed by the city which also contributed $200,000 and an acre of land. It was in the mid-70s that the Harlingen Community Playhouse began holding productions in the old Briggs-Coleman School. In 1990 this group purchased a warehouse at 507 N 1st Street and converted it into a 150-seat theater. The renovations took a year to complete. The venue soon proved to be inadequate though 48 productions were featured in the six and one-half seasons there. With the new theater available the Community Playhouse now takes on the name Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre.

6/98 The Harlingen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce organizes initially with 50 members and grows to 289 by 2002. Its primary focus is "to promote the growth, development, and success of small businesses and to provide educational and leadership resources for the community." The chamber was established by the efforts of Edward Nino (a banker), Michael Garza (director of downtown improvement), Jim Solis and Manny Vela (attorneys).

9/20/96 It is announced that David Allex will retire from the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce as of 12/27 and 34 years of dedicated service. The city has seen dynamic growth and change in his tenure. He helped to bring in the Fruit of the Loom, Valley Greyhound Park and in 1975 Southwest Airlines among other businesses. In March 1997 Shirley Clowes of Michigan leave her Midland position to accept the Harlingen C of C position as president and CEO.

5/14/99 The Boy Scouts of America Rio Grande Council dedicates its new facility at 6912 W. Expressway 83. Designed by Labunski and Associates, the 81,000 square foot one story building is named the Vance D. and Mary Lee Raimond Scout Center in honor of two individuals in the community who had done so much for scouting. To its immediate west at 6914 is the American Red Cross South Texas Chapter building also named for the Raimonds.

Miscellaneous

2/90 The Jalapeno Hundred Annual Bicycle Tour benefiting Harlingen Youth Athletics is initiated. This same month James Matz of Harlingen, and who later to be a County Commissioner, organizes Valley Proud and also Harlingen Proud. Youth and others work annually in connection with Arbor Month and throughout the year to improve the Valley's environment, tree-planting being only one aspect. Although Arbor Month is held nationally in April, February is more suitable to plant in the Valley. Matz is known for his civic leadership and conservation efforts. He will have served on the Harlingen City Commission and later as mayor of Palm Valley. Over time he receives over 30 awards in recognition of his efforts. In 1995 Matz will be one of 11 people to win the President's National Service Award and have it presented to him by President Bill Clinton during a White House ceremony. At age 72 on January 2, 2010, he will die in a Houston hospital. He was recognized as a caring man of honesty and integrity.

1991 The CAF has nearly 7,000 members nation-wide and about 140 flyable WWII aircraft. 4/5/91 City experiences once in 500 year category rainstorm which floods large areas of the city as well as San Benito and Palm Valley. Up to 20"+ falls in six hours in some areas(officially 17" in 24 hour period at airport). Insurance losses for houses and over 3,000 cars range into the millions. Mayor Card initially puts losses at $5 million then revises it to $12.5 million, 3-5 of which is for public facilities. The airport is closed to air traffic. After visiting here, on 4/8/91 Governor Ann Richards declares Cameron County a disaster area. 12/91 First Annual Lights for Life celebration is conducted to benefit the Sandi Funk Hospice program. The event raises public concern and funds for the program.

11/92 The Rev. Ralph Morales, founder and pastor of the End of the Road ministries, opens a homeless shelter. Previous to this he has run a faith-based addition recovery program. By 2003 the shelter, now at 307 and 311 West Harrison, has an annual budget of $260,000. Morales in ill health by 2/03 negotiates with the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, a Kansas City, MO organization affiliated with about 300 homeless shelters, to take over the facility with a newly-formed non-profit corporation being set up. Current debts are $60,000 and the new group will pick these up. Orrin Johnson of Harlingen puts up $30,000 and asks the community to match it. It does. Johnson in 2005 is awarded the organization's first Good Samaritan Award as the 59 year old San Antonio native, Morales, takes retirement as the shelter's director.

11/03 The Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival commences. Its headquarters are in Harlingen at the Lon C. Hill Park. This event will grow into a major tourist activity for the area. In November 2003 over 750 people from 40 states are pre-registered. The festival includes field trips, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and a large bazaar with numerous vendors.

1994 From this year through 2003 the professional baseball team in the city operates in the Texas-Louisiana League as the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings. 2/94 The first annual Shrimp Fest is inaugurated in Harlingen by the Harlingen, San Benito and Raymondville Rotary Clubs. This large fund-raising effort raises money for scholarships, gifts to libraries, hospitals, and family emergency, and other local needs. 11/94 H-E-B initiates its annual Feast of Sharing pre-Thanksgiving Day event where the community is invited to a traditional meal.

2/18/95 On the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, a review is held for veterans at the MMA. The body of one of the Mt. Suribachi flag-raisers, who is later killed by a sniper on the island, is re-interred in front of the Iwo Jima Monument at MMA. This native of Weslaco had previously been buried in that city. His marker reads: Harlon H. Block Texas CPL 28 Marines 5 Marine DIV World War II Nov 6 1924 March 1 1945. 12/25/95 Eleanor Ochsner Matz dies. Born in 1914 in New Jersey she had come with her family to La Feria in 1929. In 1932 she and her family moved to Harlingen where she would eventually marry electrician E. O. Matz. She is remembered for a lifetime of tireless efforts to clean up Harlingen, her civic pride, her community advocacy, commitment to youth, health and beautification. Her children are James and Brant, Joyce Hill and Susan Raybourn. Initially an ELCA Lutheran, she was to become a member of the First Methodist Church.

4/96 The First Annual RGV Jazz Festival is held in connection with Rio Fest. 12/96 The first Annual Pinata Fiesta is held in the La Placita District near Gutierrez Park in an effort to put a better face on this area.

11/9/97 Mayor Card proclaims Helen Christiansen as first Poet Laureate of the city. 1997-98 Starting out as a pickup team Harlingen's Bronco League champions have an undefeated season under coach Carl Wells.

1999 First Ocelot Festival and fundraiser is held. It is co-sponsored by the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Valley Morning Star. Its funds go to ocelot research and land acquisition. Fewer than 100 ocelots survive in the U.S., all living in South Texas, and most in the Laguna Atascosa Refuge. June Toland, whose son George survives cancer, organizes the first American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life. Over the years the fund-raiser increases the awareness of cancer and helps raise funds for research. Mrs. Toland, the wife of pediatrician Dr. George Toland, is recognized for her work at the event's 10th anniversary when the city honors her with a proclamation.