Several national magazine and TV shows, including Time and CBS Evening News, offered glowing accounts of employment opportunities in Odessa. Though the media marketed the city as a land of plenty, newcomers to Odessa soon learned that housing was scarce. The Odessa Chamber of Commerce as well as UTPB officials named the shortage a top priority. The lack of living accommodations for UTPB students was especially critical, since the school needed to increase enrollment in order to secure more funding from the next legislature. The tragedy results in tough new laws and regulations to control the deadly gas, which is common to oilfields.
Information is drawn from news accounts, archives and other historical records.
20th Century Countdown. The Odessa American's daily countdown of the last 100 years, from 1900 through 1999, with a short summary of some news and newsmakers affecting residents of Odessa. Copyright 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved. Refer comments to Webmaster .