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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The City of Lubbock and its citizens are coming |
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together to create a memorial to commemorate the community's |
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rebirth after the devastating natural disaster that struck the city |
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on May 11, 1970; and |
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WHEREAS, On that evening, two tornados tore through Lubbock, |
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and one of them carved a two-mile path of devastation in the heart |
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of the city, causing almost $200 million in damage to homes, |
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businesses, and infrastructure; the storm took 26 lives, ranging |
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from a nine-month-old baby to an 88-year-old, and another 255 |
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people were seriously hurt, while more than 1,500 suffered minor |
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injuries; and |
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WHEREAS, In the aftermath of the disaster, the community |
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pulled together under the leadership of mayor Jim Granberry, city |
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manager Bill Blackwell, and police chief J. T. Alley; in August |
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1970, a bond proposal was overwhelmingly passed which provided for |
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millions of dollars to rebuild the city, a project that included |
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such new facilities as the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, the Mahon |
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Public Library, and 15 city parks; and |
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WHEREAS, In April 2017, the Lubbock City Council designated a |
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four-acre site at Glenna Goodacre Boulevard and Avenue Q as the |
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location for a new memorial park to tell the story of the tornado, |
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honor those who lost their lives, and celebrate the vision and |
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fortitude of the people who rebuilt Lubbock; budgeted at $4.5 |
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million, the park will include a granite memorial wall, a water |
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feature, trees and green space, and parking, and it will also serve |
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as a gateway to the newly energized downtown cultural arts |
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district; and |
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WHEREAS, This striking memorial represents a fitting tribute |
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to the city's recovery from one of its greatest trials and to those |
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hardworking and steadfast individuals who joined forces to rebuild |
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their beloved community, brick by brick; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the Tornado Memorial Gateway and |
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extend to the city and citizens of Lubbock sincere best wishes for |
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the successful completion of this impressive project. |
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Frullo |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1141 was adopted by the House on May |
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23, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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