HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, On March 4, 1997, the Texas Legislature will join

 1-2     with the residents of the Texas Panhandle in paying tribute to 26

 1-3     of Texas' finest counties in recognition of their outstanding

 1-4     cultural, economic, and historical contributions to the state; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The region contributes greatly to Texas' economic

 1-6     prosperity through both agriculture and oil and natural gas

 1-7     production; wheat is the major crop grown in the northern counties,

 1-8     while cotton is the crop of choice in the south, and feedlot

 1-9     operations, meat packing, leather tanning, and fabric milling are

1-10     the other key industries in the area; oil and gas reserves stretch

1-11     120 miles from Moore County to Wheeler County, accentuating the

1-12     importance of natural resources to the area; and

1-13           WHEREAS, The Panhandle is also home to several renowned

1-14     institutions of higher education, including West Texas A&M

1-15     University, Clarendon College, Amarillo College, and Frank Phillips

1-16     College, and each has done an outstanding job in preparing future

1-17     leaders to face the many challenges that lie ahead; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike have come to enjoy the

1-19     wide variety of recreational and cultural resources that the area

1-20     has to offer; outdoors enthusiasts can partake in a variety of

1-21     activities at  Palo Duro Canyon State Park, and they can cap off

1-22     their visit with a viewing of the internationally acclaimed musical

1-23     drama "TEXAS" performed under the stars in a natural amphitheater;

1-24     and

 2-1           WHEREAS, History buffs can learn more about the region's past

 2-2     at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, one of the largest

 2-3     facilities of its kind in the state, while science enthusiasts can

 2-4     spend many fascinating hours at the Krister Aviation and Space

 2-5     Museum; in addition, West Texas A&M University offers an array of

 2-6     interesting events throughout the year; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, Home to more than 400,000 individuals, the Panhandle

 2-8     boasts record high employment rates and is one of the most

 2-9     desirable regions of our state in which to live, work, and rear a

2-10     family; despite its impressive growth rate, the area has retained

2-11     its unique character and charm, and it gives the members of the

2-12     legislature great pleasure to salute the region and its people on

2-13     this auspicious occasion; now, therefore, be it

2-14           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-15     hereby designate March 4, 1997, as Panhandle Day at the Capitol and

2-16     commend its citizens for their many fine contributions; and, be it

2-17     further

2-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-19     prepared for the residents of the Panhandle as an expression of

2-20     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.

                                                                    Swinford

                                                                      Chisum

                                                                       Laney

                                                                     Smithee

         Laney                   Gutierrez                Oliveira

         Alexander               Haggerty                 Olivo

         Allen                   Hamric                   Palmer

         Alvarado                Hartnett                 Patterson

         Averitt                 Hawley                   Pickett

         Bailey                  Heflin                   Pitts

         Berlanga                Hernandez                Place

         Bonnen                  Hightower                Price

         Bosse                   Hilbert                  Puente

         Brimer                  Hilderbran               Rabuck

         Burnam                  Hill                     Ramsay

         Carter                  Hinojosa                 Rangel

         Chavez                  Hirschi                  Raymond

         Chisum                  Hochberg                 Reyna of Bexar

         Christian               Hodge                    Reyna of Dallas

         Clark                   Holzheauser              Rhodes

         Coleman                 Horn                     Rodriguez

         Cook                    Howard                   Roman

         Corte                   Hunter                   Sadler

         Counts                  Hupp                     Seaman

         Crabb                   Isett                    Serna

         Craddick                Jackson                  Shields

         Cuellar                 Janek                    Siebert

         Culberson               Jones of Lubbock         Smith

         Danburg                 Jones of Dallas          Smithee

         Davila                  Junell                   Solis

         Davis                   Kamel                    Solomons

         Delisi                  Keel                     Staples

         Denny                   Keffer                   Stiles

         Driver                  King                     Swinford

         Dukes                   Krusee                   Talton

         Dunnam                  Kubiak                   Telford

         Dutton                  Kuempel                  Thompson

         Edwards                 Lewis of Tarrant         Tillery

         Ehrhardt                Lewis of Orange          Torres

         Eiland                  Longoria                 Turner of Coleman

         Elkins                  Luna                     Turner of Harris

         Farrar                  McCall                   Uher

         Finnell                 McClendon                Van de Putte

         Flores                  McReynolds               Walker

         Gallego                 Madden                   West

         Galloway                Marchant                 Williams

         Garcia                  Maxey                    Williamson

         Giddings                Merritt                  Wilson

         Glaze                   Moffat                   Wise

         Goodman                 Moreno                   Wohlgemuth

         Goolsby                 Mowery                   Wolens

         Gray                    Naishtat                 Woolley

         Greenberg               Nixon                    Yarbrough

         Grusendorf              Oakley                   Zbranek

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 108 was adopted by the House on

         March 4, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 108 was adopted by the Senate on

         March 4, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor