84R17356 BGU-D
 
  By: Landgraf H.R. No. 1343
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, On March 25, 2015, proud citizens of two historic
  West Texas counties are gathering in Austin to celebrate Ward and
  Winkler Counties Day at the State Capitol; and
         WHEREAS, The territory of Ward County was originally home to
  the Apache and Comanche Indians, and in 1881, the Texas and Pacific
  Railway built a line through the region, with stations at Barstow
  and Monahans; the county was created out of part of Tom Green County
  in 1887 and named for Thomas "Peg Leg" Ward, a soldier in the Texas
  Revolution who lost his leg to a cannonball; a center for ranching
  and farming in its early years, the county was transformed by the
  discovery of oil and gas in the 1920s; during World War II, it was
  the site of Pyote Army Air Field, and in 1957, the Monahans
  Sandhills State Historic Park was created in the county's northeast
  corner; and
         WHEREAS, Monahans, the Ward County seat, was founded in 1880
  by an Irishman named John Thomas Monahan, an employee of the Texas
  and Pacific who found water at the site, and it was incorporated in
  1928; situated at the hub of the Permian Basin, the town boasts a
  welcoming business environment facilitated by easy access to two
  railroads and two interstate highways; today, the area is stronger
  and busier than ever, with a sharp increase in oil drilling and a
  strong commitment by city and county officials to upgrade the
  county's infrastructure and accommodate the growing need for
  housing, industry, and retail; and
         WHEREAS, The Anasazi were the earliest known people in the
  Winkler County area, and then in the 1880s, cattlemen established
  large ranches on free state land; Winkler County was carved out of
  Tom Green County and named after Clinton W. Winkler, a state
  legislator and judge; in 1910, the county was officially organized
  and the town of Kermit, named after Theodore Roosevelt's son, was
  chosen as county seat; the oil boom of the 1920s brought so many
  people that residents lived in tents and makeshift shelters, and a
  new town, Winkler, sprang up; when the postal authorities advised
  that there was another town with that name, it was swiftly shortened
  to Wink; and
         WHEREAS, During the early boom years, Wink acquired a wild
  and freewheeling reputation; now, although its economy is still
  based on the petroleum industry and ranching, it is better known as
  the hometown of music legend Roy Orbison; his first band, the Wink
  Westerners, made its radio debut on Kermit station KERB, and the Roy
  Orbison Museum is today one of the town's interesting attractions;
  and
         WHEREAS, These two storied counties hold a notable place in
  frontier history, and through the years, their towns have
  demonstrated a unique High Plains flair; the residents of both
  counties can indeed take great pride in their colorful past as they
  look forward to a bright future; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 2015, as Ward and Winkler
  Counties Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
  delegations sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable
  visit to Austin.