Ordinance No. 7345

AN ORDINANCE DECLARING THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE CITY OF IRVING'S NAME IS DERIVED FROM AMERICA'S FIRST MAN OF LETTERS, WASHINGTON IRVING, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF SAME.

WHEREAS, J. Otto Schulze and Otis Brown, who were working on the construction of the Rock Island Railroad, bought just over 80 acres of good, level land from Henry Britain upon which to build a new town in October, 1902; and

WHEREAS, in 1903, the naming process began and many names were suggested and discussed by Mr. Brown and Mr. Schulze before the name Irving was chosen; and

WHEREAS, this name was legally established by the incorporation of the City of Irving in April, 1914 by an election, canvassed and approved by the Commissioners Court of Dallas County; and

WHEREAS, the origin of the name of the City of Irving has remained ambiguous, based upon remarks in interviews by Mr. Brown and Mr. Schulze; and

WHEREAS, the descendants of Mr. Brown and Mr. Schulze tell of two facts that lend support to the theory that the origin of the City's name is Washington Irving, an American storyteller, historian, humorist, biographer, and distinguished diplomat who lived from 1783 to 1859; (a) Otto Schulze participated in activities of the Irving Society at the University of Iowa; and (b) the favorite author of Netta Barcus Brown, the wife of Otis Brown, was Washington Irving;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IRVING, TEXAS:

SECTION 1.© That the City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the citzens of Irving to enhance the unity of the City by declaring that the origin of the name of this city is America's first man of letters, Washington Irving.© The City Council also recognizes that our children will gain a new sense of history and literature when they can associate these subjects with the City in which they live.© Further, the image that is generated by this distinguished literary name will enhance civic, charitable, and commercial events and even create new ones.

SECTION 2.© The City Council is committed to promoting visionary leadership throughout the City of Irving and the Washington Irving relationship will add focus and directly benefit the City of Irving and its citizens as a new era begins ‚ the Millennium.

SECTION 3.© This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon passage.

PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IRVING, TEXAS, this 22nd day of October, A.D., 1998.

[ Back To The City's Namesake Page ]