88R11331 CW-D
By: Sparks S.R. No. 145
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are gathering
in Austin from February 6 to 8, 2023, 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, Midland and Odessa are the primary cities located in
the Permian Basin, which is one of the largest oil producing regions
in the world and accounts for 40 percent of production in the United
States; 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; 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 Museum evokes the life of a
prominent Texas ranching family; the Haley Memorial Library &
History Center houses the first bell to hang in the Alamo and vast
resources of oral and written archives about the cowboy and the
American Southwest; 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 University of Texas of the Permian Basin campus, 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 West Texas Symphony, and the award-winning
Midland Community Theatre offer live performances that inspire and
entertain; and
WHEREAS, The 99-acre I-20 Wildlife Preserve Jenna Welch
Nature Study Center and the 49-acre Sibley Nature Center celebrate
the nature and history of the Permian Basin while showcasing the
beauty and wildlife of the region; Odessa is host to the Spire, a
1950s mid-century architecture sign that was refurbished in 2019
and is the tallest lighted public art structure in Texas; 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 its 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 in the Permian Basin Petroleum
Museum present the geology and history of oil while helping 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 which pays
tribute to the 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
during 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 Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
hereby recognize February 6-8, 2023, as Midland-Odessa Days at the
State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.