Bill Text: TX HR520 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Recognizing February 21, 2013, as Ward and Winkler Counties Day at the State Capitol.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-02-22 - Reported enrolled [HR520 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HR520-Enrolled.html

---

H.R. No. 520

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On February 21, 2013, proud citizens of two historic
West Texas counties are gathering in Austin to celebrate Ward and
Winkler Counties Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, The territory of Ward County was originally home to
the Apache and Comanche Indians, and in 1881, the Texas and Pacific
Railway built a line through the region, with stations at Barstow
and Monahans; the county was created out of part of Tom Green County
in 1887 and named for Thomas "Peg Leg" Ward, a soldier in the Texas
Revolution who lost his leg to a cannonball; a center for ranching
and farming in its early years, the county was transformed by the
discovery of oil and gas in the 1920s; during World War II, it was
the site of Pyote Army Air Field, and in 1957, the Monahans
Sandhills State Historic Park was created in the county's northeast
corner; and
WHEREAS, Monahans, the county seat, was founded in 1880 by an
Irishman named John Thomas Monahan, an employee of the Texas and
Pacific who found water at the site, and it was incorporated in
1928; situated at the hub of the Permian Basin, the town boasts a
welcoming business environment facilitated by easy access to two
railroads and two interstate highways; today, the area is stronger
and busier than ever, with a sharp increase in oil drilling and a
strong commitment by city and county officials to upgrade the
county's infrastructure and accommodate the growing need for
housing, industry, and retail; and
WHEREAS, The Anasazi were the earliest known people in the
Winkler County area; in the 1880s, cattlemen established large
ranches on free state land; Winkler County was carved out of Tom
Green County and named after Clinton W. Winkler, a state legislator
and judge; in 1910, the county was officially organized and the town
of Kermit, named after Theodore Roosevelt's son, was chosen as
county seat; the oil boom of the 1920s brought so many new people
that residents lived in tents and makeshift shelters, and another
town, Winkler, sprang up; when the postal authorities advised that
there was another town with that name, it was swiftly shortened to
Wink; and
WHEREAS, During the early boom years, Wink acquired a wild
and freewheeling reputation; now, although its economy is still
based on the petroleum industry and ranching, it is better known as
the hometown of music legend Roy Orbison; his first band, the Wink
Westerners, made its radio debut on Kermit station KERB, and the Roy
Orbison Museum is today one of the town's most interesting
attractions; Kermit gained celebrity luster more recently when the
Disney Company threw a 50th birthday party for Kermit the Frog, and
the town made national headlines as it celebrated in style,
renaming a street in honor of the Muppet and repainting the water
tower with his likeness; and
WHEREAS, These two storied counties hold a notable place in
frontier history, and through the years, their towns have
demonstrated a unique High Plains flair; the residents of both
counties can indeed take great pride in their colorful past as they
look forward to a bright future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 21, 2013, as Ward and Winkler
Counties Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
delegations sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable
visit to Austin.
Lewis
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 520 was adopted by the House on February
21, 2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House