84R8370 BPG-D
	By: Price	H.R. No. 462

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Proud residents of the Texas Panhandle are gathering
	in Austin on February 17, 2015, to celebrate Panhandle Day at the
	State Capitol, and this occasion offers a welcome opportunity to
	honor their region's rich heritage and many noteworthy features;
	and
	WHEREAS, One of the oldest inhabited areas of Texas, the
	Panhandle is crossed by the Canadian and Red Rivers, rests over the
	southern tip of the Ogallala Aquifer, and offers breathtaking views
	of Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the country; its
	vast rolling plains were once roamed by Paleo-Indian hunters, long
	before Francisco Vazquez de Coronado became the first European to
	reach the area in 1541; it remained contested territory throughout
	much of its history, until the Compromise of 1850, when it assumed
	its modern boundaries; and
	WHEREAS, Ranching became central to the Panhandle's culture
	and economy in the late 19th century; during this time, two of the
	area's major ranches were established: JA Ranch, which began in
	1876 when Charles Goodnight arrived with a herd of longhorn cattle
	from Colorado, and XIT Ranch, which was formed in the 1880s from
	three million acres of Panhandle land traded by the state to finance
	construction of a new Texas Capitol; the regional economy was
	further diversified with the advent of the railroads and dryland
	farming techniques, which led to a greater role for wheat and cotton
	farming, and the discovery of oil and natural gas in the 1920s;
	today, the agriculture, oil and gas, and wind industries continue
	to be important to the region, and there are two large refining
	facilities, the Valero McKee Refinery in Sunray and the
	ConocoPhillips Refinery in Borger; and
	WHEREAS, Amarillo, in Potter and Randall Counties, is an
	essential component of the prosperity of the Panhandle, with Tyson
	Foods, Bell Helicopter, Pantex, and multiple state-of-the-art
	health care systems all serving as major employers; in addition,
	the city is home to two major associations, the American Quarter
	Horse Association and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association; the
	nearby town of Canyon offers access to Palo Duro Canyon State Park,
	designated as one of "America's 10 Best State Parks" by Fodor's
	Travel, and is home to the long-running outdoor musical drama
	Texas, which chronicles the story of Panhandle settlers in the
	1800s; other notable communities include Pampa, the second-largest
	city in the Panhandle and a commercial center for oil and livestock,
	Dalhart, which hosts the annual XIT Rodeo and Reunion, and Dumas and
	Hereford, major centers for cattle feeding operations and beef
	processing plants; this area, known as Cattle-Feeding Country,
	supports a multibillion dollar industry with the largest
	proliferation of feedlots in the nation; and
	WHEREAS, The Panhandle is home to such premier educational
	institutions as the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center,
	with its schools of medicine, pharmacy, and allied health sciences,
	and West Texas A&M University, both of which boast nationally
	recognized programs and faculty; Amarillo College continues to be
	among the finest community colleges in the country, and Wayland
	Baptist University, Frank Phillips College, and Clarendon College
	also offer outstanding educational opportunities; and
	WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy a range of
	attractions, including a number of museums, such as the American
	Quarter Horse Museum and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum,
	with over 2 million artifacts, along with such cultural assets as
	the Amarillo Museum of Art, the Lone Star Ballet, and the Amarillo
	Symphony; moreover, the adventurous can drive the length of the
	legendary Route 66 through Texas, starting in Glen Rio and passing
	through Amarillo's popular historic district before ending their
	journey in Shamrock; and
	WHEREAS, Known for their hospitality, strong work ethic, and
	resilience, or, as Stratford's welcome sign proclaims, "God, Grass,
	and Grit," the citizens of the Texas Panhandle may take great pride
	in all they have done to make their region one of the treasures of
	the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize February 17, 2015, as Panhandle Day at
	the State Capitol and extend to the visiting guests sincere best
	wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin.