85R9862 KSM-D
By: Landgraf H.R. No. 655
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Ward County are gathering in
Austin on February 28, 2017, to celebrate Ward County 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; and
WHEREAS, 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 commitment by city and county
officials to upgrade the county's infrastructure and accommodate
the growing need for housing, industry, and retail; and
WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their rich heritage, the
hardworking people of Ward County are looking ahead to the
opportunities of the future, and they may reflect with pride on
their contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2017, as Ward County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.