SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 184

WHEREAS, Proud citizens from Amarillo and other Texas Panhandle communities are visiting Austin on February 21, 2023, to celebrate Panhandle Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, The Panhandle is a thriving region of the state and is home to one of the oldest inhabited places in Texas; Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the country, stretches through the northern part of the region, offering spectacular views and revealing through its exposed strata a geologic record spanning some 250 million years; and

WHEREAS, Rich in history, the region is also known for its traditional ranch lands, crop and meat production, large areas of oil and gas reserves, major industry, and a nationally recognized workforce; and

WHEREAS, Amarillo, the principal northern city of the Panhandle, is a dynamic urban center with a population of more than 200,000 and a wide array of cultural amenities; contributing to Amarillo's economic vitality is Bell, formerly known as Bell Helicopter, which is a final assembly center for the V-22 Osprey, the UH-1Y and AH-1Z, and the 525 Relentless helicopters; additionally, a site operated by CNS Pantex for the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration is the only assembly-disassembly plant for the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal; and

WHEREAS, A region of many exemplary citizens and community leaders, the Texas Panhandle is also home to excellent educational institutions; the Texas Tech University System, including its medical, law, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine schools, and West Texas A&M University are among the premier institutions in Texas and boast ever-increasing enrollments, nationally recognized programs and faculty, and outstanding graduates; Amarillo College is one of the finest community colleges in the country, and Wayland Baptist University, Frank Phillips College, and Clarendon College also offer excellent opportunities for higher education in the area; and

WHEREAS, Attractions in the region include the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, which is located on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon and is the largest history museum in the state; moreover, the Texas Tech University campus is host to many restored structures at the National Ranching Heritage Center, a 27-acre museum and outdoor historical park that traces the evolution of ranch architecture and the history of the cattle industry in Texas; and

WHEREAS, Renowned for their friendliness and warmth, the residents of the Panhandle region have helped build vital urban centers that serve not only a large part of Texas but also eastern New Mexico, and it is a pleasure to join in paying tribute to the region's rich heritage; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize February 21, 2023, as Panhandle Day at the State Capitol and extend to the delegations in attendance sincere appreciation for their contributions to the Lone Star State.

Sparks

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 21, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate