SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 796
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  join the airmen, the United States Department of Defense
  employees, and the families of Dyess Air Force Base, along with
  the Abilene community, in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the
  C-130 Hercules aircraft in the Big Country; and
         WHEREAS, On February 8, 1961, the 64th Troop Carrier Wing
  began a distinguished era of service with the arrival of the
  first C-130 on the base; the early missions of the C-130s
  included responding to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 and
  delivering support to the Distant Early Warning radar sites along
  the Arctic Circle with ski-equipped transport models;
  longer-range models were developed over the years, and the latest
  version of the aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules, began
  arriving in 2010; and
         WHEREAS, The 64th Troop Carrier Wing passed the leadership
  torch to the 516th Tactical Airlift Wing in 1963, followed by the
  463rd Airlift Wing in 1972 and the 7th Wing in 1993; the 317th
  Airlift Group of today was activated in 1997; and
         WHEREAS, Over the past 50 years, more than 17,000
  maintenance workers and aircrew members have kept the C-130
  Hercules ready to respond to the next crisis; the Dyess C-130s
  have delivered critical cargo under enemy fire and have been used
  to carry out numerous humanitarian missions, such as airlifting
  refugees to safety, fighting forest fires, and responding to Gulf
  Coast hurricanes; the steadfast support of the Abilene community
  has been an intregal part of the outstanding success of the C-130
  mission at Dyess Air Force Base; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
  Legislature, hereby pay tribute to all who have participated in
  the missions and the maintenance of the Dyess Air Force Base
  C-130 Hercules aircraft over the last 50 years; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
  honor of the 50th anniversary of the C-130 Hercules aircraft at
  Dyess Air Force Base.
 
  Fraser
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on April 18, 2011.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate