88R12403 CW-D
By: Sparks S.R. No. 184
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud citizens from Amarillo and other Texas
Panhandle communities are visiting Austin on February 21, 2023, to
celebrate Panhandle Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, The Panhandle is a thriving region of the state and
is home to one of the oldest inhabited places in Texas; Palo Duro
Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the country, stretches through
the northern part of the region, offering spectacular views and
revealing through its exposed strata a geologic record spanning
some 250 million years; and
WHEREAS, Rich in history, the region is also known for its
traditional ranch lands, crop and meat production, large areas of
oil and gas reserves, major industry, and a nationally recognized
workforce; and
WHEREAS, Amarillo, the principal northern city of the
Panhandle, is a dynamic urban center with a population of more than
200,000 and a wide array of cultural amenities; contributing to
Amarillo's economic vitality is Bell, formerly known as Bell
Helicopter, which is a final assembly center for the V-22 Osprey,
the UH-1Y and AH-1Z, and the 525 Relentless helicopters;
additionally, a site operated by CNS Pantex for the U.S. Department
of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration is the only
assembly-disassembly plant for the nation's nuclear weapons
arsenal; and
WHEREAS, A region of many exemplary citizens and community
leaders, the Texas Panhandle is also home to excellent educational
institutions; the Texas Tech University System, including its
medical, law, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine schools, and West
Texas A&M University are among the premier institutions in Texas
and boast ever-increasing enrollments, nationally recognized
programs and faculty, and outstanding graduates; Amarillo College
is one of the finest community colleges in the country, and Wayland
Baptist University, Frank Phillips College, and Clarendon College
also offer excellent opportunities for higher education in the
area; and
WHEREAS, Attractions in the region include the
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, which is located on the campus
of West Texas A&M University in Canyon and is the largest history
museum in the state; moreover, the Texas Tech University campus is
host to many restored structures at the National Ranching Heritage
Center, a 27-acre museum and outdoor historical park that traces
the evolution of ranch architecture and the history of the cattle
industry in Texas; and
WHEREAS, Renowned for their friendliness and warmth, the
residents of the Panhandle region have helped build vital urban
centers that serve not only a large part of Texas but also eastern
New Mexico, and it is a pleasure to join in paying tribute to the
region's rich heritage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
hereby recognize February 21, 2023, as Panhandle Day at the State
Capitol and extend to the delegations in attendance sincere
appreciation for their contributions to the Lone Star State.