TITLE: Recognizing February 15, 2011, as Midland-Odessa Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 15, 2011, as Midland-Odessa Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are gathering in Austin on February 15, 2011, 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 develop as a major processor and distributor of petroleum products, 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, Midland is proud to be the hometown of former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, as well as the longtime home of former president George H. W. Bush, former first lady Barbara Bush, and former Florida governor Jeb Bush; and WHEREAS, Odessa and Midland boast many fine historical and cultural attractions; in Odessa, the Presidential Museum is one of only a few museums in the nation dedicated to the history of the presidency, while the Parker House Museum evokes the life of a prominent Texas ranching family; visitors and residents alike enjoy the live productions at the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on the campus of Odessa College; and WHEREAS, Midland's Museum of the Southwest offers displays of the art and archaeology of the American Southwest, and the interactive exhibits of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum present the geology and history of oil in West Texas; the American Airpower Heritage Museum of the Commemorative Air Force depicts the history of the U.S. Air Force during World War II; the Midland Festival Ballet, the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale, and the 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 House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 15, 2011, as Midland-Odessa Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for a memorable and meaningful stay in Austin. Lewis Craddick Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Allen Gooden Murphy Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Aycock Harless Parker Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Berman Hartnett Paxton Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Branch Hochberg Phillips Brown Hopson Pickett Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burnam Howard of Travis Price Button Huberty Quintanilla Cain Hughes Raymond Callegari Hunter Reynolds Carter Isaac Riddle Castro Jackson Ritter Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Christian Keffer Schwertner Coleman King of Parker Scott Cook King of Taylor Sheets Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons Deshotel Lavender Strama Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dutton Lozano Thompson Eiland Lucio III Torres Eissler Lyne Truitt Elkins Madden Turner Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farrar Margo Villarreal Fletcher Marquez Vo Flynn Martinez Walle Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Gallego McClendon White Garza Menendez Woolley Geren Miles Workman Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 156 was adopted by the House on February 15, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House