H.C.R. No. 161

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Proud residents of West Texas are gathering in Austin to celebrate West Texas Day at the State Capitol on March 27, 2007; and

WHEREAS, With its epic history--a chronicle of Native Americans contesting for the land with frontier soldiers and settlers, of cow towns and cattle drives supplanting immense herds of buffalo, of oilmen and roughnecks developing the vast petroleum and gas fields of the Permian Basin--this famous region encompasses much of what people most readily associate with the Lone Star State; and

WHEREAS, The scenic wonders of West Texas include, in the northern reaches, the primordial grasslands of the Llano Estacado, the imposing Caprock escarpment, and the spectacular Palo Duro Canyon, while to the south lie striking landscapes of mountains, deserts, and the steeply cut canyons of the Rio Grande; and

WHEREAS, Citizens of West Texas cherish the land and the rich heritage that have shaped them and take pride in the communities and institutions they have established; among their most important creations are many fine institutions of higher learning, including Abilene Christian University and McMurry University in Abilene, West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas Tech University, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Midland College in Midland, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin and Odessa College in Odessa, and Angelo State University in San Angelo; and

WHEREAS, Serving the people of West Texas are a number of modern urban centers; Abilene, established in the 1880s on the line of the Texas and Pacific Railway, has grown from a celebrated cattle town into a thriving city of 115,000; a center for ranching and the petroleum industry, it is also the site of Dyess Air Force Base, home to the B-1 bomber and its crews and a staging area for troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan; in 2002, the city gained a dramatic addition to its downtown area with the opening of Frontier Texas! a six-acre, state-of-the-art tourist complex that also serves as the starting point for the Texas Forts Trail, a 650-mile heritage tour through 29 counties; and

WHEREAS, Located in the heart of the Panhandle and at the center of the largest natural gas field in the world, Amarillo has built its prosperity on gas, petroleum, agriculture, and cattle; in addition, the city has several major defense plants, including BWTX Pantex and Bell Helicopter Textron; residents enjoy such cultural amenities as opera, ballet, symphonic music, theater at the Globe News Center for the Performing Arts, and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, while the nearby Cadillac Ranch ranks as one of the nation's truly unique tourist attractions; and

WHEREAS, Lubbock, a center for agribusiness, distribution, and manufacturing, is also widely known for its outstanding medical facilities, for its comprehensive National Ranching Heritage Center, and for a renowned archeological site, the Lubbock Lake Landmark; the birthplace, moreover, of rock and roll legend Buddy Holly, Lubbock has played an influential role in the growth of Texas music, nurturing such artists as Waylon Jennings, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock; and

WHEREAS, Long identified with the oil business, Midland continues to be an administrative and financial center for that industry; its cultural attractions include the Petroleum Museum, the Museum of the Southwest, and the American Airpower Heritage Museum, a world-famous collection of vintage World War II aircraft that was initially developed by the Commemorative Air Force; and

WHEREAS, Odessa claims the distinction of being home to the largest inland petrochemical complex in the world; another facet of the community's identity is reflected in the venerable Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo, the first rodeo of the season for the nearly one thousand men and women competing on the tour of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association; the city also boasts a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Ellen Noel Art Museum, the Parker House Ranching Museum, and the Presidential Museum, the only museum in the United States solely dedicated to the office of the presidency; and

WHEREAS, San Angelo's colorful frontier history lives on at Fort Concho, one of the best preserved forts in the country and now a national historic landmark; at one time the largest range cattle shipping station in the U.S., San Angelo continues to be a national leader in the processing and shipping of wool and mohair, while it also benefits from a highly diversified industrial sector; Goodfellow Air Force Base, established at San Angelo in 1940, further contributes to the city's economy, as well as to the nation's defense; and

WHEREAS, With its striking vistas, abundant natural resources, and energetic, hardworking people, West Texas is engaged in building a future that promises to be as dynamic and exciting as its storied past; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby recognize March 27, 2007, as West Texas Day at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable visit to all those who have traveled here for this special occasion.

Craddick

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 161 was adopted by the House on March 27, 2007, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 161 was adopted by the Senate on March 27, 2007, by a viva-voce vote.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor