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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens from Amarillo and other Texas |
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Panhandle communities are visiting Austin on February 21, 2023, to |
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celebrate Panhandle Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, The Panhandle is a thriving region of the state and |
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is home to one of the oldest inhabited places in Texas; Palo Duro |
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Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the country, stretches through |
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the northern part of the region, offering spectacular views and |
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revealing through its exposed strata a geologic record spanning |
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some 250 million years; and |
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WHEREAS, Rich in history, the region is also known for its |
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traditional ranch lands, crop and meat production, large areas of |
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oil and gas reserves, major industry, and a nationally recognized |
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workforce; and |
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WHEREAS, Amarillo, the principal northern city of the |
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Panhandle, is a dynamic urban center with a population of more than |
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200,000 and a wide array of cultural amenities; contributing to |
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Amarillo's economic vitality is Bell, formerly known as Bell |
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Helicopter, which is a final assembly center for the V-22 Osprey, |
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the UH-1Y and AH-1Z, and the 525 Relentless helicopters; |
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additionally, a site operated by CNS Pantex for the U.S. Department |
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of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration is the only |
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assembly-disassembly plant for the nation's nuclear weapons |
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arsenal; and |
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WHEREAS, A region of many exemplary citizens and community |
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leaders, the Texas Panhandle is also home to excellent educational |
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institutions; the Texas Tech University System, including its |
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medical, law, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine schools, and West |
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Texas A&M University are among the premier institutions in Texas |
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and boast ever-increasing enrollments, nationally recognized |
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programs and faculty, and outstanding graduates; Amarillo College |
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is one of the finest community colleges in the country, and Wayland |
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Baptist University, Frank Phillips College, and Clarendon College |
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also offer excellent opportunities for higher education in the |
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area; and |
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WHEREAS, Attractions in the region include the |
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Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, which is located on the campus |
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of West Texas A&M University in Canyon and is the largest history |
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museum in the state; moreover, the Texas Tech University campus is |
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host to many restored structures at the National Ranching Heritage |
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Center, a 27-acre museum and outdoor historical park that traces |
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the evolution of ranch architecture and the history of the cattle |
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industry in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Renowned for their friendliness and warmth, the |
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residents of the Panhandle region have helped build vital urban |
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centers that serve not only a large part of Texas but also eastern |
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New Mexico, and it is a pleasure to join in paying tribute to the |
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region's rich heritage; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby recognize February 21, 2023, as Panhandle Day at the State |
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Capitol and extend to the delegations in attendance sincere |
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appreciation for their contributions to the Lone Star State. |