SR35 - Recognizing February 3 through 5, 2025, as Midland-Odessa Days.

          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 35          WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are   gathering in Austin on February 3-5, 2025, to celebrate   Midland-Odessa Days 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 1929, Midland was   home to 36 oil companies; 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; and            WHEREAS, Midland and Odessa are the primary cities located   in the Permian Basin, which is one of the largest oil producing   regions in the world and accounts for 40 percent of production in   the United States; and            WHEREAS, The Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa features   world-class exhibits year-round, and the Haley Memorial Library &   History Center in Midland houses the first bell to hang in the   Alamo and vast resources of oral and written archives about the   cowboy and the American Southwest; situated between Midland and   Odessa is the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, a   state-of-the-art facility boasting a total of 2,000 seats   between its theater and recital hall; visitors and residents   alike also enjoy the Stonehenge replica on The University of   Texas Permian Basin campus in Odessa, as well as live productions   at the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre at Odessa College;   the Midland Festival Ballet, the West Texas Symphony, and the   award-winning Midland Community Theatre offer live performances   that inspire and entertain; and            WHEREAS, The 99-acre I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna   Welch Nature Study Center and the 49-acre Sibley Nature Center   celebrate the nature and history of the Permian Basin while   showcasing the beauty and wildlife of the region; Odessa is host   to the Spire, a 1950s mid-century architecture sign that was   refurbished in 2019 and is the tallest lighted public art   structure in Texas; and            WHEREAS, The White-Pool House is the first residential   home in Odessa and proudly displays items from both the White and   Pool families; also located in Odessa and enjoyed by more than   10,000 visitors every year is the nation's second-largest meteor   crater and its adjoining museum; and            WHEREAS, Midland's Museum of the Southwest offers displays   of the art and archaeology of the American Southwest, as well as   the winning Kentucky Derby history of one of Midland's prominent   families; the interactive exhibits in the Permian Basin   Petroleum Museum present the geology and history of oil while   helping inspire entrepreneurs of the future; and          WHEREAS, Odessa features the Chris Kyle Memorial Plaza,   which honors the former Navy SEAL who was born in Odessa, and   which pays tribute to the past, current, and future veterans who   have selflessly served our country; the Midland Army Air Field   Museum preserves the history of the largest bombardier training   school during World War II and also highlights the contributions   that West Texans made to the war effort; and            WHEREAS, For more than a century, the 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 89th   Legislature, hereby recognize February 3-5, 2025, as   Midland-Odessa Days at the State Capitol and extend a warm   welcome to the visiting delegation.     Sparks                 ________________________________          President of the Senate               I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on February 5, 2025.                 ________________________________          Secretary of the Senate                 ________________________________           Member, Texas Senate