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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Public-spirited residents of Big Spring and its |
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vicinity are gathering in Austin to celebrate Big Spring Area Day |
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at the State Capitol on March 25, 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, This location in the foothills of the Caprock |
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escarpment of West Texas was named for the "big spring" in Sulphur |
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Draw, which was originally a watering place for wolves, antelope, |
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buffalo, and wild mustangs; the spring was visited by the Comanche |
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and Shawnee, and it later became a campsite on the Santa Fe Trail; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Settled by buffalo hunters and ranchers in the |
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1870s, the region became more populated after the arrival of the |
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Texas and Pacific Railroad in 1880; the town of Big Spring grew up |
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around a rail station that was located several miles from Sulphur |
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Draw; in 1882, Howard County was established with Big Spring as its |
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seat, and by 1884, the town had four general stores, six saloons, |
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and a newspaper; and |
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WHEREAS, By 1920, Big Spring had become an important shipping |
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junction for livestock, cotton, and grain; the discovery of oil in |
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1926 led to rapid growth; during World War II, the Big Spring Army |
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Air Corps Bombardier School trained more than 5,000 bombardiers; |
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Webb Air Force Base was later established on the site, and after the |
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base closed in 1977, ownership of the airfield reverted to the City |
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of Big Spring; now known as McMahon-Wrinkle Airport/Airpark, the |
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facility is a major catalyst for development in the area; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, cotton, cattle, and oil and gas production |
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continue to undergird the diversified economy of Big Spring, in |
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addition to the newer industries of composite manufacturing, |
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telecommunications services, and plastics; the presence of four |
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wind turbine farms has also made the region a leader in the |
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production of green energy in Texas; in the city of Big Spring |
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itself, the creation of the Downtown Historic District is spurring |
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redevelopment, including the restoration of the famous Settles |
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Hotel and the revitalization and beautification of the city's |
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business district; and |
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WHEREAS, A vital nexus for health care services, Big Spring |
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is home to the VA Medical Center, Scenic Mountain Medical Center, |
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Howard County Mental Health Center, and Big Spring State Hospital, |
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as well as the main offices of the West Texas VA Health Care System |
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and the West Texas Centers for Mental Health and Mental |
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Retardation; the area's schoolchildren are served by the Big |
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Spring, Coahoma, and Forsan Independent School Districts, and |
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postsecondary education is provided by Howard College and the |
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Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf; and |
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WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike enjoy the fine |
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recreational opportunities in the region; Big Spring State Park, |
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capping a tall limestone bluff, offers striking views, and Moss |
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Creek Lake affords enjoyable opportunities for camping, swimming, |
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picnicking, and boating; the Heritage Museum tells the story of |
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life in West Texas from the time of the Comanche to the oil boom, |
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while the Hangar 25 Air Museum features aircraft exhibits; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich history as they work to |
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create a still brighter future, the people of Big Spring may take |
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great pride in their heritage and their contribution to the |
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prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 2009, as Big Spring Area Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |