SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 120
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are
gathering in Austin on February 5, 2019, 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, a Smithsonian affiliate that
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; and
WHEREAS, 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 campus
of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin; 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; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, 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
the 99-acre I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna Welch Nature Study
Center and 49-acre Sibley Nature Center celebrate the nature and
history of the Permian Basin while showcasing the beauty and
wildlife of the region; 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, 86th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 5, 2019, 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 5, 2019.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate