By Farabee                                           H.C.R. No. 192
         76R11447 GMW-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives and Senate are
 1-2     proud to recognize April 14, 1999, as Wichita Falls Day at the
 1-3     State Capitol; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, This illustrious city was named for the Wichita
 1-5     Indians, a Plains Indian tribe who once lived near the 54-foot-tall
 1-6     cascading waterfalls along the Wichita River; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, The history of Wichita Falls dates back to 1882,
 1-8     when the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad brought the area's first
 1-9     settlers; the city was initially an agricultural and trade center,
1-10     but after Fowler No. 1 struck oil in 1918 it quickly became a mecca
1-11     for petroleum production and manufacturing; and
1-12           WHEREAS, The county seat of Wichita County, Wichita Falls
1-13     currently features a diverse export and manufacturing economy and a
1-14     population of more than 100,000 hardworking citizens; this thriving
1-15     city has numerous lakes nearby and serves as a hub of activity for
1-16     neighboring communities, including Iowa Park and Burkburnett; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Wichita Falls is also the location of Sheppard Air
1-18     Force Base, one of the five largest technical training centers in
1-19     the United States, and the site of the only NATO pilot training
1-20     program in the world; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Throughout the years the city has maintained an
1-22     enduring commitment to educational excellence and serves as the
1-23     home of Midwestern State University, which is renowned for its
1-24     strong and diverse academic programs, as well as being the new
 2-1     location of the Dallas Cowboys summer training camp; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, In addition to a wide range of cultural activities,
 2-3     Wichita Falls also features a host of recreational attractions,
 2-4     including the "Hotter 'N Hell Hundred," the largest sanctioned
 2-5     bicycle race in the nation, and the Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf
 2-6     Tournament, the largest junior golf tournament in the world; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Wichita Falls has long been an outstanding place in
 2-8     which to live, work, and raise a family, and it is indeed
 2-9     appropriate that its citizenry be given special recognition at this
2-10     time; now, therefore, be it
2-11           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-12     hereby designate April 14, 1999, as Wichita Falls Day at the State
2-13     Capitol and join the citizens of that city in paying tribute to
2-14     this fine community.