H.R. No. 335
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are gathering
in Austin on February 7, 2017, to celebrate Midland-Odessa Day at
the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Set only 20 miles apart in the ranching and oil
country of West Texas, these vibrant Texas cities got their start as
stops on the Texas and Pacific Railway in the 1880s; by 1890,
Midland was one of the most important centers for shipping cattle in
Texas; and
WHEREAS, Odessa began its rapid growth with the discovery of
oil in the Permian Basin in the 1920s, and by the 1940s, it had grown
from 750 residents to 10,000; by 1929, Midland was home to 36 oil
companies, and the demand for oil during World War II helped Odessa
develop as a major processor and distributor of petroleum products,
home to the largest inland petrochemical complex in the world; and
WHEREAS, Today, Midland continues to be the financial and
administrative capital of the Permian Basin, while Odessa remains
the center for the region's oil processing and distribution;
looking to the future, the Midland Development Corporation and the
Odessa Development Corporation are working to strengthen and
diversify the area's economy; and
WHEREAS, Odessa and Midland boast many fine historical and
cultural attractions; in Odessa, the Presidential Archives &
Leadership Library is the only museum in the nation dedicated to the
history of the office of the presidency; the families of both Bush
presidents have called Midland and Odessa home, and the archive
features a restored house where the Bush family once resided;
additionally, the Ellen Noël Art Museum, one of only two
Smithsonian affiliates in Texas, features world-class exhibits
year-round, and the Parker House Ranching Museum evokes the way of
life of a prominent Texas ranching family; and
WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the Stonehenge
replica on the campus of The University of Texas of the Permian
Basin, as well as live productions at the replica of Shakespeare's
Globe Theatre on the campus of Odessa College; the White-Pool house
is the first residential home in Odessa and proudly displays items
from both the White and Pool families; also located in Odessa and
enjoyed by more than 10,000 visitors every year is the nation's
second-largest meteor crater and adjoining museum; and
WHEREAS, Odessa's newest attraction is the Chris Kyle
Memorial Plaza, which honors the former Navy SEAL who was born in
Odessa, and also pays tribute to past, current, and future veterans
who have served our country so unselfishly; and
WHEREAS, Situated between Midland and Odessa is the Wagner
Noël Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility boasting a
total of 2,000 seats between its theater and recital hall, which
brings in myriad shows to impress a variety of audiences; and
WHEREAS, Midland's Museum of the Southwest offers displays of
the art and archaeology of the American Southwest, as well as the
winning Kentucky Derby history of one of Midland's prominent
families; the newly remodeled interactive exhibits of the Permian
Basin Petroleum Museum present the geology and history of oil while
inspiring entrepreneurs of the future; and
WHEREAS, The Midland Army Air Field Museum preserves the
history of the largest bombardier training school in World War II
and also highlights the contributions that West Texans made to the
war effort; the Haley Memorial Library & History Center houses the
first bell to hang in the Alamo, as well as vast resources of oral
and written history about the cowboy; furthermore, the Midland
Festival Ballet, the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale, and the
award-winning Midland Community Theatre offer live performances
that inspire and entertain; and
WHEREAS, For more than a century, the dynamic cities of
Midland and Odessa have been at the economic and cultural hub of
West Texas, and their citizens continue to celebrate their rich
history as they work hard to build a prosperous future; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Midland-Odessa
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
wishes for a meaningful and enjoyable stay in Austin.
Landgraf
Craddick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 335 was adopted by the House on
February 8, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House