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