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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Don Sparks, chair of the board for Discovery |
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Operating, has been named the 2022 Top Hand by the Permian Basin |
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Petroleum Association; and |
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WHEREAS, An Amarillo native, Mr. Sparks earned a petroleum |
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engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1962, |
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and after serving in the U.S. Navy for four years, he embarked on |
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his distinguished career in the petroleum industry; initially, he |
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held a number of engineering and consulting roles with such |
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companies as Bailey, Sipes, Williamson and Runyan, Freeport Oil |
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Company, and Shell Oil Company; and |
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WHEREAS, After settling in Midland, he and his wife, |
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Gwyndolyn, decided to use their savings to launch Discovery |
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Operating in 1973; so began the independent company's many decades |
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of success, and in 2023, Discovery will celebrate its 50th |
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anniversary; in addition, Mr. Sparks joined with C. Ronald Platt to |
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cofound the engineering consulting firm Platt, Sparks & Associates |
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in 1980; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks has been active in myriad professional |
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organizations, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers |
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Permian Basin Chapter, the Independent Petroleum Association of |
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America, and the National Society of Petroleum Engineers; moreover, |
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his family and company have supported such worthwhile causes as |
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High Sky Children's Ranch and The Village at Manor Park; in |
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recognition of his many accomplishments, he was named a UT |
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Distinguished Alumnus and was inducted into the Petroleum Hall of |
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Fame, and he has received an Independent Petroleum Association of |
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America Leadership Award and a Hearst Energy Award for Lifetime |
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Achievement; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks and Mrs. Sparks are the parents of three |
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sons, Jeff, Kevin, and Todd, and they also take great pride in their |
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grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his leadership, vision, and expertise, Don |
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Sparks has earned the lasting respect of his peers in the petroleum |
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industry, and he is truly deserving of this prestigious honor; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Don Sparks on his receipt of the |
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2022 Top Hand award from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association |
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and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Sparks as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |