83R9094 BK-D
By: Price H.R. No. 473
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of the Texas Panhandle are gathering
in Austin on February 19, 2013, to celebrate Panhandle Day at the
State Capitol, and this occasion offers a welcome opportunity to
honor their region's rich heritage and many noteworthy features;
and
WHEREAS, One of the oldest inhabited areas of Texas, 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; its vast rolling plains were once roamed by
Paleo-Indian hunters, long before Francisco Vazquez de Coronado
became the first European to reach the area in 1541; it remained
contested territory throughout much of its history, until the
Compromise of 1850, when it assumed its modern boundaries; and
WHEREAS, Ranching became central to the Panhandle's culture
and economy in the late 19th century; during this time, two of the
area's major ranches were established: JA Ranch, which began in
1876 when Charles Goodnight arrived with a herd of longhorn cattle
from Colorado, and XIT Ranch, which was formed in the 1880s from
three million acres of Panhandle land traded by the state to finance
construction of a new Texas Capitol; the regional economy was
further diversified with the advent of the railroads and dryland
farming techniques, which led to a greater role for wheat and cotton
farming, and the discovery of oil and natural gas in the 1920s;
today, the agriculture, oil and gas, and wind industries 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, Pantex, and two health care systems all serving as
major employers; the nearby town of Canyon offers access to Palo
Duro Canyon State Park, home to the long-running outdoor musical
drama Texas, which chronicles the story of Panhandle settlers in
the 1800s; other notable communities include Pampa, the second
largest city in the Panhandle and a commercial center for oil and
livestock, Dalhart, which hosts the annual XIT Rodeo and Reunion,
and Hereford, regarded by many as the "Beef Capital of the World";
and
WHEREAS, The Panhandle is home to such premier educational
institutions as the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center,
with its schools of medicine, pharmacy, and allied health sciences,
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, and such cultural assets as the
Amarillo Museum of Art, the Lone Star Ballet, and the Amarillo
Symphony; moreover, the adventurous can drive the length of the
legendary Route 66 through Texas, starting in Glen Rio and passing
through Amarillo's popular historic district and the towns of
Adrian, Vega, Groom, and McLean, before ending their journey near
Shamrock; and
WHEREAS, Known 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; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2013, as Panhandle Day at
the State Capitol and extend to the visiting guests sincere best
wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin.