H.R. No. 473

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Proud residents of the Texas Panhandle are gathering
	in Austin on February 19, 2013, to celebrate Panhandle Day at the
	State Capitol, and this occasion offers a welcome opportunity to
	honor their region's rich heritage and many noteworthy features;
	and
	WHEREAS, One of the oldest inhabited areas of Texas, the
	Panhandle is crossed by the Canadian and Red Rivers, rests over the
	southern tip of the Ogallala Aquifer, and offers breathtaking views
	of Palo Duro Canyon; its vast rolling plains were once roamed by
	Paleo-Indian hunters, long before Francisco Vazquez de Coronado
	became the first European to reach the area in 1541; it remained
	contested territory throughout much of its history, until the
	Compromise of 1850, when it assumed its modern boundaries; and
	WHEREAS, Ranching became central to the Panhandle's culture
	and economy in the late 19th century; during this time, two of the
	area's major ranches were established: JA Ranch, which began in
	1876 when Charles Goodnight arrived with a herd of longhorn cattle
	from Colorado, and XIT Ranch, which was formed in the 1880s from
	three million acres of Panhandle land traded by the state to finance
	construction of a new Texas Capitol; the regional economy was
	further diversified with the advent of the railroads and dryland
	farming techniques, which led to a greater role for wheat and cotton
	farming, and the discovery of oil and natural gas in the 1920s;
	today, the agriculture, oil and gas, and wind industries continue
	to be important to the region; and
	WHEREAS, Amarillo, in Potter and Randall Counties, is
	essential to the prosperity of the Panhandle, with Tyson Foods,
	Bell Helicopter, Pantex, and two health care systems all serving as
	major employers; the nearby town of Canyon offers access to Palo
	Duro Canyon State Park, home to the long-running outdoor musical
	drama Texas, which chronicles the story of Panhandle settlers in
	the 1800s; other notable communities include Pampa, the second
	largest city in the Panhandle and a commercial center for oil and
	livestock, Dalhart, which hosts the annual XIT Rodeo and Reunion,
	and Hereford, regarded by many as the "Beef Capital of the World";
	and
	WHEREAS, The Panhandle is home to such premier educational
	institutions as the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center,
	with its schools of medicine, pharmacy, and allied health sciences,
	and West Texas A&M University, both of which boast nationally
	recognized programs and faculty; Amarillo College and South Plains
	College continue to be among the finest community colleges in the
	country, and Wayland Baptist University, Frank Phillips College,
	and Clarendon College also offer an outstanding education; and
	WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy a range of
	attractions, including the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the
	largest history museum in Texas, and such cultural assets as the
	Amarillo Museum of Art, the Lone Star Ballet, and the Amarillo
	Symphony; moreover, the adventurous can drive the length of the
	legendary Route 66 through Texas, starting in Glen Rio and passing
	through Amarillo's popular historic district and the towns of
	Adrian, Vega, Groom, and McLean, before ending their journey near
	Shamrock; and
	WHEREAS, Known for their hospitality, strong work ethic, and
	resilience, the citizens of the Texas Panhandle may take great
	pride in all they have done to make their region one of the
	treasures of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2013, as Panhandle Day at
	the State Capitol and extend to the visiting guests sincere best
	wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin.
	Price
	Smithee
	King of Hemphill
	Springer
	Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
	Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
	Alonzo Gooden Otto
	Alvarado Guerra Paddie
	Anchia Guillen Parker
	Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
	Ashby Harless Perez
	Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
	Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
	Bohac Herrero Pickett
	Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
	Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
	Branch Huberty Raney
	Burkett Hughes Ratliff
	Burnam Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Callegari Johnson Riddle
	Canales Kacal Ritter
	Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
	Clardy King of Parker Rose
	Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
	Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
	Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
	Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
	Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
	Creighton Krause Simmons
	Crownover Kuempel Simpson
	Dale Larson Smith
	Darby Laubenberg Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
	J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
	S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
	Deshotel Longoria Strama
	Dukes Lozano Taylor
	Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
	Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
	Elkins Martinez Toth
	Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
	Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
	Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White
	Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
	Giddings Murphy Wu
	Goldman Naishtat Zedler
	Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 473 was adopted by the House on February
	19, 2013, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House