1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 383

 1-3           WHEREAS, Wichita Falls is a major gateway city for people

 1-4     visiting Texas, and in their initial exposure to this great state

 1-5     these visitors encounter a distinctive city of some 100,000

 1-6     hardworking citizens who are noted for their friendly hospitality

 1-7     and strong sense of community; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Traveling from the north, one also beholds the

 1-9     impressive new Wichita Falls, 54-feet of attractively terraced

1-10     rocks over which water cascades before merging with the Wichita

1-11     River; and

1-12           WHEREAS, The waterfall replaces a small one that was the

1-13     city's namesake, which washed away over 100 years ago, and it

1-14     symbolizes both the city's frontier past and its progressive

1-15     approach to being a community that is a tribute to its people

1-16     now and in the future; and

1-17           WHEREAS, The area was once the home of the Wichitas, a

1-18     Plains Indian tribe, and the earlier falls were a landmark for

1-19     frontiersmen and explorers; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Wichita Falls traces its birth to September 27, 1882,

1-21     when the first train arrived with prospective buyers for lots in

1-22     the townsite that had been laid out in 1876 by John A. Scott, Jr.;

1-23     and

 2-1           WHEREAS, The city soon became an important agriculture,

 2-2     cattle, and manufacturing center; in 1909, milling and grain

 2-3     shipping were prominent, the Wichita Falls Window Glass Company

 2-4     was founded in 1912, and in the 1930s the city produced three

 2-5     percent of the nation's window glass; today, PPG Industries

 2-6     operates the world's largest float glass plant there; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, After the famous Fowler Number 1 struck oil in

 2-8     1918 in Burkburnett, petroleum became the leading component of

 2-9     the city's economy; and

2-10           WHEREAS, World War I pilots were trained at Call Field, and

2-11     military aviation is still a notable part of the city as it is the

2-12     home of Sheppard Air Force Base; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Wichita Falls public schools are highly regarded, and

2-14     Midwestern State University is widely esteemed for its strong and

2-15     diverse academic programs and for having one of the nation's top

2-16     intercollegiate soccer teams; and

2-17           WHEREAS, Numerous surrounding lakes provide the city with

2-18     abundant water resources and outstanding recreational opportunities;

2-19     and

2-20           WHEREAS, The community spirit of its citizens is responsible

2-21     for the "Fantasy of Lights" at Midwestern State University,

2-22     considered one of the best Christmas light displays in the state,

2-23     which attracts many visitors; and

2-24           WHEREAS, Wichita Falls indeed has many fine qualities

2-25     but its greatest resource is its citizens, and March 25, 1997,

 3-1     has been designated Wichita Falls Day to honor them; now, therefore,

 3-2     be it

 3-3           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

 3-4     75th Legislature, hereby recognize March 25, 1997, as Wichita Falls

 3-5     Day in Texas to commemorate the many significant contributions of

 3-6     its citizens, past and present, to this state's heritage and

 3-7     greatness.

 3-8                                                    Haywood

 3-9           Armbrister           Galloway            Patterson

3-10           Barrientos           Harris              Ratliff

3-11           Bivins               Lindsay             Shapiro

3-12           Brown                Lucio               Shapleigh

3-13           Cain                 Luna                Sibley

3-14           Carona               Madla               Truan

3-15           Duncan               Moncrief            Wentworth

3-16           Ellis                Nelson              West

3-17           Fraser               Nixon               Whitmire

3-18           Gallegos             Ogden               Zaffirini

3-19                      Bullock, President of the Senate

3-20                                  ______________________________________

3-21                                          President of the Senate

3-22                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-23                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-24                                  on March 26, 1997.

3-25                                  ______________________________________

3-26                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-27                                  ______________________________________

3-28                                           Member, Texas Senate