H.R. No. 1343

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, On March 25, 2015, 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 Ward 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, and then 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
	people that residents lived in tents and makeshift shelters, and a
	new 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 interesting attractions;
	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 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 2015, as Ward and Winkler
	Counties Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
	delegations sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable
	visit to Austin.
	Landgraf
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 1343 was adopted by the House on March
	25, 2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House