| |
| |
|
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Don Sparks, chair of the board for Discovery |
|
|
Operating, has been named the 2022 Top Hand by the Permian Basin |
|
|
Petroleum Association; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, An Amarillo native, Mr. Sparks earned a petroleum |
|
|
engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1962, |
|
|
and after serving in the U.S. Navy for four years, he embarked on |
|
|
his distinguished career in the petroleum industry; initially, he |
|
|
held a number of engineering and consulting roles with such |
|
|
companies as Bailey, Sipes, Williamson and Runyan, Freeport Oil |
|
|
Company, and Shell Oil Company; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After settling in Midland, he and his wife, |
|
|
Gwyndolyn, decided to use their savings to launch Discovery |
|
|
Operating in 1973; so began the independent company's many decades |
|
|
of success, and in 2023, Discovery will celebrate its 50th |
|
|
anniversary; in addition, Mr. Sparks joined with C. Ronald Platt to |
|
|
cofound the engineering consulting firm Platt, Sparks & Associates |
|
|
in 1980; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks has been active in myriad professional |
|
|
organizations, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers |
|
|
Permian Basin Chapter, the Independent Petroleum Association of |
|
|
America, and the National Society of Petroleum Engineers; moreover, |
|
|
his family and company have supported such worthwhile causes as |
|
|
High Sky Children's Ranch and The Village at Manor Park; in |
|
|
recognition of his many accomplishments, he was named a UT |
|
|
Distinguished Alumnus and was inducted into the Petroleum Hall of |
|
|
Fame, and he has received an Independent Petroleum Association of |
|
|
America Leadership Award and a Hearst Energy Award for Lifetime |
|
|
Achievement; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks and Mrs. Sparks are the parents of three |
|
|
sons, Jeff, Kevin, and Todd, and they also take great pride in their |
|
|
grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Through his leadership, vision, and expertise, Don |
|
|
Sparks has earned the lasting respect of his peers in the petroleum |
|
|
industry, and he is truly deserving of this prestigious honor; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
|
hereby congratulate Don Sparks on his receipt of the 2022 Top Hand |
|
|
award from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and extend to |
|
|
him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Mr. Sparks as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives and Senate. |