86R9171 KSM-D

By: Craddick H.C.R. No. 44

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are gathering in Austin February 4-6, 2019, to celebrate Midland-Odessa Days at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Set only 20 miles apart in the ranching and oil country of West Texas, these vibrant Texas cities got their start as stops on the Texas and Pacific Railway in the 1880s; by 1890, Midland was one of the most important centers for shipping cattle in Texas; and

WHEREAS, Odessa began its rapid growth with the discovery of oil in the Permian Basin in the 1920s, and by 1929, Midland was home to 36 oil companies; today, Midland continues to be the financial and administrative capital of the Permian Basin, while Odessa remains the center for the region's oil processing and distribution; and

WHEREAS, Odessa and Midland boast many fine historical and cultural attractions; in Odessa, the Presidential Archives & Leadership Library is the only museum in the nation dedicated to the history of the office of the presidency; the families of both Bush presidents have called Midland and Odessa home, and the archive features a restored house where the Bush family once resided; and

WHEREAS, The Ellen Noël Art Museum, one of only two Smithsonian affiliates in Texas, features world-class exhibits year-round, and the Parker House Ranching Museum evokes the way of life of a prominent Texas ranching family; the Haley Memorial Library & History Center houses the first bell to hang in the Alamo, as well as vast resources of oral and written history about the cowboy; and

WHEREAS, Situated between Midland and Odessa is the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility boasting a total of 2,000 seats between its theater and recital hall, which brings in myriad shows to impress a variety of audiences; and

WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the Stonehenge replica on the campus of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, as well as live productions at the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on the campus of Odessa College; furthermore, the Midland Festival Ballet, the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale, and the award-winning Midland Community Theatre offer live performances that inspire and entertain; and

WHEREAS, The White-Pool house is the first residential home in Odessa and proudly displays items from both the White and Pool families; also located in Odessa and enjoyed by more than 10,000 visitors every year is the nation's second-largest meteor crater and adjoining museum; and

WHEREAS, Midland's Museum of the Southwest offers displays of the art and archaeology of the American Southwest, as well as the winning Kentucky Derby history of one of Midland's prominent families; the interactive exhibits of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum present the geology and history of oil while helping to inspire entrepreneurs of the future; and

WHEREAS, Odessa features the Chris Kyle Memorial Plaza, which honors the former Navy SEAL who was born in Odessa, and also pays tribute to past, current, and future veterans who have served our country so unselfishly; the Midland Army Air Field Museum preserves the history of the largest bombardier training school in World War II and also highlights the contributions that West Texans made to the war effort; and

WHEREAS, For more than a century, the dynamic cities of Midland and Odessa have been at the economic and cultural hub of West Texas, and their citizens continue to celebrate their rich history as they work hard to build a prosperous future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby recognize February 4-6, 2019, as Midland-Odessa Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.