By Counts                                             H.C.R. No. 53
         76R5149 MDM-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Colorado River Municipal Water District marks a
 1-2     historic milestone in 1999 as it commemorates 50 years of service
 1-3     to residents of West Texas, and it is appropriate that the Texas
 1-4     Legislature recognize this worthy organization; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, In 1949, the Colorado River Municipal Water District
 1-6     was created by the 51st Texas Legislature to provide a dependable
 1-7     water supply for its member cities of Big Spring, Odessa, and
 1-8     Snyder; the district's continued growth through the years has
 1-9     enabled it to expand its service to include residents of Midland,
1-10     San Angelo, Abilene, Stanton, Robert Lee, Grandfalls, and Pyote, in
1-11     addition to several industrial customers; and
1-12           WHEREAS, From an initial customer base of approximately
1-13     42,000, the district now supplies all or some of the water needs of
1-14     more than 425,000 people in West Texas; in 1952, it delivered 1.1
1-15     billion gallons, compared to last year's total delivery of 20.9
1-16     billion gallons, and even in periods of severe drought it has never
1-17     rationed water to its municipal customers; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Counted among its facilities are 10 reservoirs, 5
1-19     well fields, 23 pump stations, and more than 600 miles of pipeline;
1-20     the district has financed all necessary construction with revenues
1-21     derived from the sale of water and has required no tax, state, or
1-22     federal money to construct facilities; and
1-23           WHEREAS, The Colorado River Municipal Water District has been
1-24     led by only three general managers since its inception; Eugene V.
 2-1     Spence, who served from January 1, 1951 to April 4, 1965; Owen H.
 2-2     Ivie, who served from April 22, 1965 to September 30, 1995; and
 2-3     John W. Grant, the current general manager, who began his tenure on
 2-4     October 1, 1995; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Through the years, the municipal water district has
 2-6     benefited greatly from the vision and leadership of its outstanding
 2-7     board of directors, which is made up of representatives from its
 2-8     member cities; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Former members of the board from Odessa include
2-10     Charles B. Perry; J. L. Rhoades; the late P. C. Harbour; W. E.
2-11     Bruce; H. S. Samson; James R.  Perry; Clyde Yarbrough; and Robert
2-12     S. Searles, Jr., and current Odessa members include Charles R.
2-13     Perry, vice president; Richard D. Gillham; Ed Barham; and W. R.
2-14     "Bro" Hill; and
2-15           WHEREAS, Previous board members who have represented the
2-16     interests of Big Spring residents include Robert T. Piner; W. G.
2-17     Mims; Robert L. Cook; George G. White; H. W. Wright; Willard
2-18     Sullivan; Curtis Driver; R. W. Currie; Ward R. Hall; Dr. Lee O.
2-19     Rogers; the late John L. Taylor; Jimmy Taylor; Clyde McMahon, Sr.;
2-20     and Ken W. Perry, and the current Big Spring directors include John
2-21     Currie, president; James W. "Jim Bill" Little; Wade Choate; and
2-22     James T.  Weaver; and
2-23           WHEREAS, Former members who have worked on behalf of Snyder
2-24     residents include R. A. Schooling; the late Lyle Deffebach; James
2-25     Rosser; W. J. Ely; Forrest G. Sears; Malvern K. Stevenson; Dr. John
2-26     Blum; Gene L. Dulaney; William A. Wilson, Jr.; the late W. A.
2-27     McGlaun; R. D. Fields; Hubert W.  Cargile; James Rosser; and David
 3-1     Holt, and the current Snyder representatives include Russell S.
 3-2     Yorgesen, vice president; Ted Crenwelge; John Fagin; and Rod
 3-3     Waller; and
 3-4           WHEREAS, For 50 years, the Colorado River Municipal Water
 3-5     District has developed and provided a dependable source of water to
 3-6     individuals in an area where this essential natural resource is
 3-7     scarce, and in doing so, this organization has been of great
 3-8     benefit to countless Texans; now, therefore, be it
 3-9           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-10     commend the Colorado River Municipal Water District for providing
3-11     50 years of exceptional service to its many satisfied customers and
3-12     extend to the organization's board of directors, staff, and
3-13     employees sincere wishes for many more years of continued success;
3-14     and, be it further
3-15           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-16     prepared for the Colorado River Municipal Water District as an
3-17     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and
3-18     Senate.