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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Hughes Christensen Company is commemorating the |
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100th anniversary of its origins in 2009, making this a fitting |
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occasion to celebrate its important role in the history of the |
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petroleum industry and of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Founder Howard Robard Hughes, Sr., came to Texas |
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from Iowa in 1902, seeking his fortune in the booming Texas |
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oilfields; in 1906, he invented the two-cone rotary drill bit, |
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which made it easier to drill through rock; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hughes patented the revolutionary invention in |
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1909 and cofounded the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company, which later |
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became the Hughes Tool Company; two Hughes engineers created the |
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tri-cone bit in 1933, and it quickly became the most widely used |
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drill bit in the oil industry; when Mr. Hughes died, his son, Howard |
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Hughes, Jr., inherited the company, along with the fortune that |
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would make him one of the richest and most famous men of his era; |
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though Howard Hughes, Jr., had little involvement in the company, |
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it would continue to advance research and development of oil |
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drilling technology for the next 50 years; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1940s, Frank and George Christensen pioneered |
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the diamond drill bit, and together they founded Christensen |
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Diamond Products; like Hughes Tool, Christensen was an important |
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innovator in the field, introducing the first polycrystalline |
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diamond compact (PDC) drill bit in 1972; and |
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WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, Hughes Tool, now part of Baker |
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Hughes, merged with Christensen to become Hughes Christensen, and |
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this dynamic and innovative company is a respected leader in the |
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design and manufacture of diamond and tri-cone drilling technology |
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today; and |
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WHEREAS, Now headquartered in The Woodlands under the |
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leadership of its president, Gary Rich, Hughes Christensen is both |
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one of the largest employers in its community and a company of |
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global reach, boasting a rich history and the promise of a bright |
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future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Hughes Christensen Company on |
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its 100th anniversary and extend to its employees sincere best |
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wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Hughes Christensen as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Eissler |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1353 was adopted by the House on April |
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27, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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