[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 120 (Thursday, September 12, 2013)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1306-E1307] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF KLEBERG COUNTY, TEXAS ______ HON. FILEMON VELA of texas in the house of representatives Thursday, September 12, 2013 Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Kleberg County, Texas. The recorded history of the land which includes Kleberg County precedes the establishment of the United States, and Kleberg County was already well on its way to prominent status when local leaders successfully petitioned the Texas Legislature in 1913 to break away from Nueces County and establish a new county. Over the last century several key developments helped spur growth and development in Kleberg County. An anchor of Kleberg County, the King Ranch was established in 1853 when Richard King purchased the Santa Gertrudis grant from the heirs of the original Spanish grantees. The King Ranch continues to thrive today as an industry leader in the fields of farming, ranching, and conserving natural resources. The establishment of the City of Kingsville and the construction of railroad lines helped bring new industry to the region. Over the past 100 years, the county has been a top producer of energy and agricultural commodities, and the county's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico has made it a destination for visitors from around the world who come for the clear blue water and rich diversity of wildlife. Kleberg County saw the establishment of Naval Auxiliary Air Station Kingsville in 1942. The base originally trained military aviators for combat. Now known as Naval Air Station Kingsville, the base remains one of the U.S. Navy's premier locations for jet aviation training. [[Page E1307]] Texas A&M University Kingsville, originally established as South Texas Teachers College in 1921, is the oldest continuously operating public institution of higher learning in south Texas, and the first in the Nation to develop a doctoral program for bilingual education. It truly is a privilege and honor to represent Kleberg County in the United States House of Representatives, and I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in celebrating this momentous occasion. ____________________