82R9544 JGH-D
By: Price H.R. No. 504
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of the Texas Panhandle are gathering in
Austin on February 22, 2011, to pay tribute to their region's rich
heritage and to celebrate Panhandle Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, One of the oldest inhabited areas of Texas, where
vast grasslands once thrived, the Panhandle is crossed by the
Canadian and Red Rivers, rests over the southern tip of the Ogallala
Aquifer, and offers breathtaking views of Palo Duro Canyon; in the
1880s, three million acres of Panhandle land that was traded by the
state to finance construction of a new Texas Capitol became known as
the XIT Ranch; and
WHEREAS, Ranching became central to the Panhandle's culture
and economy in the late 19th century, and the arrival of the
railroads and dryland farming techniques expanded the role of wheat
and cotton farming; the discovery of oil and natural gas in the
1920s further diversified the economic base, and today, ranching,
farming, and the petroleum industry continue to be important to the
region; and
WHEREAS, Amarillo, in Potter and Randall Counties, is
essential to the prosperity of the Panhandle with Tyson Foods, Bell
Helicopter, B&W Pantex, and two health care systems all serving as
major employers; in addition to the city of Hereford, which is
regarded by many as the "Beef Capital of the World," other bedrock
communities in the Panhandle include Borger, Cactus, Canyon,
Childress, Clarendon, Dalhart, Dumas, Groom, Gruver, Pampa,
Panhandle, Plainview, Skellytown, Stratford, Texhoma, and
Whitedeer; and
WHEREAS, The Panhandle is home to such premier educational
institutions as the Texas Tech University System, with its schools
of medicine and pharmacy, and West Texas A&M University, both of
which boast nationally recognized programs and faculty; Amarillo
College and South Plains College continue to be among the finest
community colleges in the country, and Wayland Baptist University,
Frank Phillips College, and Clarendon College also offer an
outstanding education; and
WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy a range of
attractions, including the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the
largest history museum in Texas, as well as the Amarillo Museum of
Art, the public art installation Cadillac Ranch, and the American
Quarter Horse Association's international headquarters; other
cultural assets include the Lone Star Ballet and the Amarillo
Symphony; and
WHEREAS, Renowned for their hospitality, strong work ethic,
and resilience, the citizens of the Texas Panhandle may take great
pride in all they have done to make their region one of the
treasures of the Lone Star State, and it is a pleasure to pay
tribute to the Panhandle of Texas and the region's fine residents;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 22, 2011, as Panhandle Day at
the State Capitol and extend to the visiting guests sincere best
wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin.