H.R. No. 1343
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On March 25, 2015, proud citizens of two historic
West Texas counties are gathering in Austin to celebrate Ward and
Winkler Counties Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, The territory of Ward County was originally home to
the Apache and Comanche Indians, and in 1881, the Texas and Pacific
Railway built a line through the region, with stations at Barstow
and Monahans; the county was created out of part of Tom Green County
in 1887 and named for Thomas "Peg Leg" Ward, a soldier in the Texas
Revolution who lost his leg to a cannonball; a center for ranching
and farming in its early years, the county was transformed by the
discovery of oil and gas in the 1920s; during World War II, it was
the site of Pyote Army Air Field, and in 1957, the Monahans
Sandhills State Historic Park was created in the county's northeast
corner; and
WHEREAS, Monahans, the Ward County seat, was founded in 1880
by an Irishman named John Thomas Monahan, an employee of the Texas
and Pacific who found water at the site, and it was incorporated in
1928; situated at the hub of the Permian Basin, the town boasts a
welcoming business environment facilitated by easy access to two
railroads and two interstate highways; today, the area is stronger
and busier than ever, with a sharp increase in oil drilling and a
strong commitment by city and county officials to upgrade the
county's infrastructure and accommodate the growing need for
housing, industry, and retail; and
WHEREAS, The Anasazi were the earliest known people in the
Winkler County area, and then in the 1880s, cattlemen established
large ranches on free state land; Winkler County was carved out of
Tom Green County and named after Clinton W. Winkler, a state
legislator and judge; in 1910, the county was officially organized
and the town of Kermit, named after Theodore Roosevelt's son, was
chosen as county seat; the oil boom of the 1920s brought so many
people that residents lived in tents and makeshift shelters, and a
new town, Winkler, sprang up; when the postal authorities advised
that there was another town with that name, it was swiftly shortened
to Wink; and
WHEREAS, During the early boom years, Wink acquired a wild
and freewheeling reputation; now, although its economy is still
based on the petroleum industry and ranching, it is better known as
the hometown of music legend Roy Orbison; his first band, the Wink
Westerners, made its radio debut on Kermit station KERB, and the Roy
Orbison Museum is today one of the town's interesting attractions;
and
WHEREAS, These two storied counties hold a notable place in
frontier history, and through the years, their towns have
demonstrated a unique High Plains flair; the residents of both
counties can indeed take great pride in their colorful past as they
look forward to a bright future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 2015, as Ward and Winkler
Counties Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
delegations sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable
visit to Austin.
Landgraf
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1343 was adopted by the House on March
25, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House