H.R. No. 822
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission has approved a new
historical marker commemorating the history of the Pure Oil Company
Camp near Van; and
WHEREAS, Researched by members of the Van Zandt County
Historical Commission and sponsored by the Van Area Oil and
Historical Museum, the new marker tells an important part of the
story of the rich Van oil field during the 1930s and 1940s; and
WHEREAS, After oil was discovered in Van in 1929, the Pure Oil
Company set up a headquarters camp to serve as a storage and
distribution center for machinery, equipment, and supplies and as a
centralized location for the field's management; and
WHEREAS, The camp also featured a geological laboratory that
collected core samples from every well drilled in the Van field; the
careful planning and efficiency of the camp drew admiring visitors
from around the world; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, the Pure Oil Company Camp's
management of the Van field helped produce enough crude oil to
manufacture more than six hundred million gallons of gasoline; 80
years later, the field is still productive; and
WHEREAS, The approval of an official Texas Historical Marker
to note the Pure Oil Company Camp's unique role in Texas history
serves as an excellent opportunity to celebrate the 80th
anniversary of the discovery of the Van oil field and of this
colorful region of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the approval of a new historical
marker for the Pure Oil Company Camp in Van by the Texas Historical
Commission and congratulate the Van Zandt County Historical
Commission and the Van Area Oil and Historical Museum on their
efforts to win approval for the marker.
Flynn
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 822 was adopted by the House on March
26, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House