86R9171 KSM-D
By: Craddick H.C.R. No. 44
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are gathering
in Austin February 4-6, 2019, to celebrate Midland-Odessa Days 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 1929, Midland was home
to 36 oil companies; 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; 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; and
WHEREAS, 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; 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; 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, 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; 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, 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, 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 interactive exhibits of the Permian Basin Petroleum
Museum present the geology and history of oil while helping to
inspire entrepreneurs of the future; and
WHEREAS, Odessa features 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; 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; 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 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby recognize February 4-6, 2019, as Midland-Odessa Days at the
State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for
an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.