SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 174

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased
to join the citizens of the Texas Panhandle in proclaiming
Tuesday, February 25, 2003, as Panhandle Day at the Capitol; and

	WHEREAS, A spectacular region in Texas, the Panhandle is 
rich in history and scenic plains and is home to a host of cities 
offering a wide array of opportunities; and

	WHEREAS, The area is a combination of traditional ranch 
lands unchanged for centuries, High Plains agriculture, and 
large stretches of oil and gas reserves; and

	WHEREAS, A glimpse of the region's past is provided by
the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum located on the campus
of West Texas A&M University; the museum provides an intriguing 
overview of life in the Old West; and

	WHEREAS, The Texas Panhandle is home to the Pantex Plant, 
the nation's only assembly and disassembly facility for its 
nuclear weapons stockpile; Pantex is responsible for safely and 
securely maintaining America's nuclear weapons arsenal, BWXT 
Pantex manages the plant for the Department of Energy's National 
Nuclear Security Administration; and

	WHEREAS, Amarillo was the home of the late Air Force 
Colonel Rick Husband, Commander of Columbia Space Shuttle 
Mission STS-107; he and the other six crew members gave their 
lives to further our knowledge of science and space, and the 
President of the United States so eloquently stated, "All mankind 
is in their debt"; and

	WHEREAS, The Panhandle City of Amarillo was chosen
from a nationwide search to house the Bell Helicopter Textron, 
Incorporated, Tiltrotor Assembly Center; the center is the first 
major aircraft manufacturing facility built in Texas in decades; 
and

	WHEREAS, The state's well known Palo Duro Canyon State Park 
is located in the heart of the Panhandle; the park's arresting 
scenic canyon contains rocks spanning 200 million years of 
geologic time; and

	WHEREAS, With more than 400,000 residents, the Panhandle 
offers the opportunities and vitality generated by modern cities 
and industry, yet its natural beauty and spectacular scenery 
remain unchanged; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby commend the residents of the Panhandle 
on their many contributions to our state and extend to them best 
wishes for a joyous Panhandle Day; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
the citizens of the Panhandle of Texas as an expression of high 
regard from the Texas Senate.
                                                                          Bivins
                                                                          Duncan




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on February 25, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate