H.R. No. 150
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Andrews County are gathering in Austin
to celebrate Andrews County Day at the State Capitol on February 1,
2011; and
WHEREAS, Set under the wide-open skies of West Texas, Andrews
County is part of the high plains of the Permian Basin; the region
may have been inhabited as early as 6000 B.C., and archaeological
remains show the presence of the Anasazi people more than a thousand
years ago; more recently, the county was home to Apache and Comanche
tribes until the mid-1870s; and
WHEREAS, Andrews County was formed from Bexar County on
August 21, 1876, and named for Richard Andrews, the first man to die
in the Texas War for Independence in 1835; the town of Andrews was
established around 1908, and it became the county seat in 1910; and
WHEREAS, In its earliest days, the county's economy was
dominated by ranching; the vast Chicago Ranch founded by the
Midwestern meat packer Nelson Morris included 228,000 acres in
Andrews County; by 1910, the county's population was 975 people and
54,000 head of cattle; and
WHEREAS, Attempts to farm in the county were hampered by lack
of water, but landowners ultimately had success with extensive
windmill systems; by the mid-20th century, cotton and sorghum had
become leading crops in the county; and
WHEREAS, The discovery of oil and natural gas led to a boom in
the 1940s, thanks largely to the efforts of oilman J. W. Triplehorn;
with the increased economic activity, the county's population
climbed to 5,000 by 1950; today, Andrews County continues to be one
of the state's leaders in oil and gas production, and it has
produced more than two billion barrels of oil since 1929; ranching
and agribusiness continue to thrive as well; the Andrews
Independent School District has established a tradition of academic
excellence, having repeatedly won top honors at the district UIL
academic competition; and
WHEREAS, Citizens and visitors alike enjoy the fine
opportunities for recreation in the area, including the Andrews
County Golf Course and the parks that are found in the city of
Andrews and elsewhere in the county; local artists display their
talents in the annual Andrews Art Guild Show, and the county boasts
two annual bluegrass festivals; in addition, the Andrews County
Library features the work of best-selling Christian author Max
Lucado, a graduate of Andrews High School, whose books have sold
millions of copies; and
WHEREAS, Blessed to live in an area with a rich history and
abundant natural resources, the people of Andrews County may take
justifiable pride in the region they call home, and it is truly a
pleasure to join in celebrating their shared heritage and
accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 1, 2011, as Andrews County
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation
sincere best wishes for an enjoyable visit to Austin.
Lewis
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 150 was adopted by the House on
February 1, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House