SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 293

WHEREAS, Citizens from Amarillo and Lubbock and from other communities located in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains are visiting Austin on February 27, 2007, to pay tribute to their region's rich heritage and to celebrate Panhandle and South Plains Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, The Panhandle and South Plains is a thriving region of the state and home to one of the oldest inhabited places in Texas; archaeologists have discovered evidence of 12,000 years of continuous habitation at what is now the Lubbock Lake Landmark State Historical Park, a national historic and state archaeological site; and

WHEREAS, Stretching through the northern part of the region is Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the country, which boasts spectacular views and reveals through its exposed strata a geologic record spanning 250 million years; and

WHEREAS, Rich in history, the region is also known for its traditional ranch lands, crop and meat production, large stretches of oil and gas reserves, major industry, and a nationally recognized workforce; and

WHEREAS, Amarillo, the principal northern city of the Panhandle and South Plains, is a dynamic urban center with a population of almost 175,000 and a wide array of cultural amenities; contributing to Amarillo's economic vitality are a Bell Helicopter tilt-rotor assembly center, where the V-22 Osprey and the US101 presidential helicopters are assembled, as well as the only assembly-disassembly plant for the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal, a facility operated by BWXT Pantex for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration; and

WHEREAS, Lubbock, the principal southern city of the Panhandle and South Plains, has a population today of approximately 212,000; Lubbock is home to the largest medical infrastructure between Dallas and Los Angeles and enjoys a diversified economy that draws its strength from agribusiness, manufacturing, and commerce; with the growth of cotton culture on the High Plains, Lubbock has become one of the world's primary centers for the processing of cottonseed; the economic strength also comes from numerous small businesses that have been the first in the state to band together to make insurance more affordable for employers, resulting in the coverage of almost 7,000 employees, 1,500 of whom were previously without major medical coverage; and

WHEREAS, A region of many exemplary citizens and community leaders, the Texas Panhandle and South Plains is also home to excellent educational institutions; the Texas Tech University System, including its medical, law, and pharmacy schools, and West Texas A&M University are among the premier institutions in Texas and boast ever-increasing enrollments, nationally recognized programs and faculty, and outstanding graduates; Amarillo College and South Plains College continue to be among the finest community colleges in the country, and Lubbock Christian University, Wayland Baptist University, Frank Phillips College, Western Texas College, and Clarendon College are all outstanding educational institutions in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains; and

WHEREAS, Outstanding attractions in the region include the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, which is located on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon and is the largest history museum in the state, and the Texas Tech University campus, which is host to many restored structures at the National Ranching Heritage Center, a 15-acre site tracing the evolution of ranch architecture and the history of the cattle industry in Texas; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of the Panhandle and South Plains region are renowned for their friendliness and warmth; they have helped to build vital urban centers that serve not only a large part of Texas but also of eastern New Mexico; it is a pleasure for the Texas Senate to pay tribute to the Panhandle and South Plains of Texas and the region's fine residents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th Legislature, hereby recognize February 27, 2007, as Panhandle and South Plains Day at the State Capitol and extend to the delegations in attendance today and to their fellow citizens sincere appreciation for their contributions to the Lone Star State; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of this event. Duncan, Seliger

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 27, 2007.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate