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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Wood County Airport in Quitman has been named |
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the 2010 General Aviation Airport of the Year by the Texas |
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Department of Transportation aviation division; and |
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WHEREAS, This well-deserved accolade recognizes the pivotal |
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changes that have taken place at the airport in recent years through |
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the vision and dedication of airport manager Wayne Collins and the |
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pilot he has trained to succeed him, Dr. John Wisdom; as a result of |
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their astute leadership, the airport has undergone a significant |
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runway expansion, the installation of a 24-hour fueling station and |
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new hangars, the construction of a taxiway, upgrades to lighting |
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systems, and the development of a new terminal that offers |
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state-of-the-art conference facilities; in addition, the Wood |
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County Airport has worked closely with TxDOT, the Tyler District |
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Maintenance Office, and the Mineola Area Maintenance Office to |
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institute maintenance and improvement initiatives, and through the |
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TxDOT RAMP program, it has established a cost-efficient vegetation |
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management program; moreover, the airport's many positive |
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attributes earned it selection as a site for a submarine detection |
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research project conducted by the United States Navy; and |
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WHEREAS, With some 700 flights each year, the Wood County |
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Airport has an annual economic impact of approximately $850,000, |
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and it is expected to continue growing in the years ahead; the |
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facility also serves as a transportation hub for tourists who come |
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from all over the world to fish in Lake Fork, known to many as the |
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"Best Bass Lake in the United States"; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Collins and Dr. Wisdom have further sought to |
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increase the airport's profile in the region by offering aircraft |
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mechanic services and flying lessons and by hosting fly-ins and |
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community appreciation days; and |
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WHEREAS, Through a combination of hard work and innovative |
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thinking, the staff of the Wood County Airport has enabled the |
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facility to become a vital asset that is helping to drive economic |
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growth in the area to the benefit of all; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby honor the Wood County |
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Airport on its designation as the 2010 General Aviation Airport of |
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the Year by the Texas Department of Transportation aviation |
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division and commend Wayne Collins, John Wisdom, and all who have |
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contributed to the success of the facility for a job well done; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Wood County Airport as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |