SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 251

WHEREAS, Many notable citizens of Lubbock are visiting Austin on February 24, 2015, to pay tribute to their city's rich heritage and to celebrate Lubbock Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, A thriving region of the state, the Lubbock area is one of the oldest inhabited places in Texas; archeologists have discovered evidence of some 12,000 years of continuous habitation at the Lubbock Lake Landmark site, a national historic and state archeological preserve; and

WHEREAS, The City of Lubbock was incorporated on March 16, 1909, and railroads stimulated the city's growth as a trade center; residents also wanted the benefits of an institution of higher learning, and when legislation creating Texas Technological College was passed in 1923, the site selection committee, impressed by the enthusiasm and hospitality of local citizens, chose Lubbock for its location; and

WHEREAS, Today a community of almost 240,000 people, Lubbock is home to the Texas Tech University System and its flagship campus as well as to two other universities and a community college; together, they draw more than 53,000 students to the city each year, making a significant impact on the local economy; approximately 10,000 young Texans graduate in Lubbock each year, and 30 percent of residents over the age of 25 hold at least a bachelor's degree; and

WHEREAS, Fostering a dynamic business environment, Lubbock has a regional labor force of more than 207,000, and the cost of doing business continues to rank as one of the lowest in the nation, due to affordable land, wage rates, electric and natural gas utilities, property taxes, and living expenses; and

WHEREAS, Lubbock is consistently recognized by national organizations for its business-friendly atmosphere; it was ranked seventh in the 2014 Forbes list of "Opportunity Cities" based on low cost of living, cultural offerings, and the strength of the business community; in addition, it has been named a top city for professional women and for young entrepreneurs seeking to start a business; and

WHEREAS, Noted for its diverse economy, the city draws its strength from agribusiness, manufacturing, and commerce, as well as from educational facilities and medical infrastructure considered the most extensive to be found between Dallas and Phoenix; with the growth of cotton culture on the High Plains, Lubbock has become one of the world's primary centers for the processing of cottonseed and hybrid grain sorghum seed; and

WHEREAS, The economy is deeply rooted in cotton farming, and Lubbock remains home to the world's largest contiguous cotton patch; the area also features several major, award-winning wineries and vineyards, which produce more than 70 percent of all the state's wine grapes; and

WHEREAS, This vibrant city also offers a wealth of recreational opportunities and cultural institutions, among them the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, the Lubbock Civic Ballet, the Museum and Planetarium of Texas Tech University, and the Silent Wings Museum; plans are well advanced for a new, state-of-the-art performing arts center to be named after local legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Holly; and

WHEREAS, City leaders meticulously planned infrastructure to create neighborhood parks and ensure the smooth flow of traffic; located at the intersection of five major highways, Lubbock is nicknamed the "Hub City," and it aims to continue that vital transportation function through the eventual Interstate Highway 27 expansion, a mayoral initiative that is expected to relieve congestion on other Texas highways; and

WHEREAS, Those desiring a glimpse of the frontier can find it in the restored structures at the Ranching Heritage Center, a 15-acre site that traces the evolution of ranch architecture and the history of the cattle industry; the region's history is also celebrated at the Bayer Museum of Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, A host of talented musicians have hailed from the Lubbock area, among them Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, the Maines family, Virgil Johnson and the Velvets, Waylon Jennings, Tanya Tucker, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Pat Green, and Butch Hancock; their rich and diverse contributions have earned Lubbock and West Texas the state designation as the official "Music Crossroads of Texas"; and

WHEREAS, Lubbock's thriving business community is represented by the largest business federation on the Texas South Plains, the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, which has promoted the prosperity of the Lubbock area for more than a century; achieving great success from its earliest days, it recruited out-of-state farmers to till the fertile soils of the Llano Estacado, secured railroad service, founded the South Plains Fair, and drafted and delivered the application that would result in the establishment of Texas Technological College, which today thrives as the heart of the Texas Tech University System; and

WHEREAS, The chamber was also instrumental in establishing Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport and Reese Air Force Base, as well as the revolutionary market-driven Chamber Employer Health Plan, which is now a national model; its efforts have also been key in the development of outstanding transportation infrastructure; committed to revitalizing the community and its downtown, the chamber oversees the efforts of Imagine Lubbock Together, a private-public partnership; it is the nation's first and only chamber to be twice 5-Star Accredited and twice named Chamber of the Year; and

WHEREAS, The delegation visiting the Capitol today includes proud members of the chamber's 40th Leadership Lubbock Class, who represent the future business and community leaders of Lubbock; and

WHEREAS, Truly keeping faith with the founders of their West Texas community, the citizens of Lubbock are renowned for their friendliness and warmth as well as their hardiness and determination, and they have helped to build a vital urban center that serves not only a large part of West Texas but also eastern New Mexico; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th Legislature, hereby recognize February 24, 2015, as Lubbock Day at the State Capitol and extend to the members of the visiting delegation and all their fellow citizens sincere appreciation for the bright luster they add to the Lone Star State.

Perry

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 24, 2015.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate