SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 112
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 to develop as a major processor and distributor of
petroleum products and to become 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, Both Midland and Odessa are proud that the Bush
presidential families and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
called Midland and Odessa home; and
WHEREAS, Odessa and Midland boast many fine historical and
cultural attractions; in Odessa, the Presidential Archives and
Leadership Library is the only museum in the nation dedicated to
the history of the office of the presidency; located right next
door is the Ellen Noël Art Museum, one of only two Smithsonian
affiliates in Texas; the museum features world class exhibits
year round; the Parker House Museum evokes the life of a
prominent Texas ranching family, and the White-Pool House is the
first residential home in Odessa and proudly displays items from
both the White and Pool families; visitors and residents alike
enjoy the live productions at the replica of Shakespeare's Globe
Theatre on the campus of Odessa College and the Stonehenge
replica on The University of Texas of the Permian Basin campus;
also located in Odessa and enjoyed by more than 10,000 visitors
every year is the nation's second-largest meteor crater and the
adjoining museum; Odessa's newest attraction is the Chris Kyle
Memorial Plaza, which honors the former Navy Seal, who was born
in Odessa, and which pays tribute to the past, current, and
future veterans who serve our country so unselfishly; located
between Midland and Odessa is the Wagner Noël Performing Arts
Center, a state-of-the-art theater boasting 1,800 seats in the
main theater and 200 seats in the recital hall; the theater hosts
a variety of shows and performances guaranteed to attract all
types 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, and the newly remodeled interactive exhibits in the
Permian Basin Petroleum Museum present the geology and history of
oil while inspiring future industry players; the Midland Army
Airfield Museum preserves the history of the largest bombardier
training school in World War II history and highlights the impact
of West Texans during the war, and the Haley Library and History
Center houses the first bell to hang in the Alamo and vast
resources of oral and written history of the "cowboy" used by
authors and historians to tell their tales; 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Midland-Odessa
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
wishes for a memorable and meaningful stay in Austin.
Seliger
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 7, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate