HR54 - Recognizing February 19, 2025, as Lubbock Day at the State Capitol.

      H.R. No. 54       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Many notable citizens of Lubbock are visiting the   Texas Capitol on February 19, 2025, to pay tribute to their city's   rich heritage and to celebrate Lubbock Day; and          WHEREAS, Located within the Llano Estacado, Lubbock was   established in an area that was known for its tough conditions; as a   result, it was settled long after many other parts of the North   American continent, and the citizens who reside there today reflect   the same welcoming and resilient pioneer spirit as the early   founders; and          WHEREAS, The City of Lubbock was incorporated on March 16,   1909; railroads, farming, and ranching stimulated the city's growth   as a trade center, and when legislation creating Texas   Technological College was passed in 1923, the site selection   committee, impressed by the enthusiasm and hospitality of its   citizens, chose Lubbock for its location; and          WHEREAS, Today, with a metropolitan area of more than 400,000   people, Lubbock is home to the Texas Tech University System and its   flagship institutions, Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech   Health Sciences Center, both world-renowned organizations; and          WHEREAS, The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center attracts   nearly 5,500 students from around the world and is currently ranked   as the number one health university in the nation by the   SR Education Group, ranking higher than programs at rival Ivy   League colleges; and          WHEREAS, Lubbock is consistently recognized by national   organizations for its business-friendly atmosphere, including   being named the number one city for women professionals; it is   ranked in the top 20 cities for young entrepreneurs starting a   business and was named seventh in the Forbes  list of top   "Opportunity Cities," based on its low cost of living, its cultural   resources, and the strength of its business community; and          WHEREAS, Lubbock has a diverse economy that draws its   strength from agribusiness, manufacturing, and oil and gas, as well   as from educational and health care services, entertainment, and   the largest medical infrastructure in Texas west of I-35; the   city's meticulously planned infrastructure has resulted in a   low-traffic community with more neighborhood parks per capita than   any other city in Texas; and          WHEREAS, With the growth of the cotton industry on the   High Plains, Lubbock has become one of the world's primary centers   for the processing of cottonseed and hybrid-grain sorghum seed;   moreover, the region just north of Lubbock has the highest density   of cattle in the entire country; Lubbock is now the home of several   major award-winning wineries and vineyards that produce more than   80 percent of the state's wine grapes; and          WHEREAS, Lubbock offers a wealth of cultural and recreational   opportunities, including the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Ballet   Lubbock, the Silent Wings Museum, the Museum and Planetarium of   Texas Tech University, the new Buddy Holly Hall, a state-of-the-art   performing arts center, and many more; those wanting a glimpse of   frontier history can find it in the restored structures at the   National Ranching Heritage Center, a 15-acre site tracing the   evolution of ranch operations, architecture, and the history and   traditions of the cattle industry; the region's history is also   celebrated at the ever-expanding FiberMax Center for Discovery and   the picturesque American Windmill Museum; and          WHEREAS, The talented musicians who have come from the   Lubbock area include Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Roy Orbison, the   Maines family, Virgil Johnson and the Velvets, Waylon Jennings, Mac   Davis, Tanya Tucker, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock,   The Flatlanders, Jon Baumann, The Chicks, Flatland Cavalry, and   Josh Abbott, as well as Texas Tech alumni John Denver, Pat Green,   and William Clark Green; their rich and diverse contributions have   earned Lubbock recognition as the Music Crossroads of Texas; and          WHEREAS, Lubbock's thriving commerce is represented by the   largest business federation on the Texas South Plains, the Lubbock   Chamber of Commerce, which expands and guards the prosperity of the   Lubbock area; and          WHEREAS, Early major achievements propelled by the chamber of   commerce during more than a century of service include recruiting   farmers from out of state to produce crops on the fertile soils of   the Llano Estacado, working to bring the railroad to Lubbock,   establishing the South Plains Fair, and drafting and delivering to   the Texas Capitol the application that would result in establishing   Texas Technological College, which today is the heart of the   Texas Tech University System; and          WHEREAS, The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in   establishing Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, Reese   Air Force Base, and outstanding transportation infrastructure, and   it was the first chamber of commerce in Texas to introduce an   Association Health Plan for 34 West Texas counties, which became a   model nationwide; and          WHEREAS, Among the delegation visiting the Capitol today are   members of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce's 47th Leadership   Lubbock Class, who represent the business and community leaders of   Lubbock; and          WHEREAS, The citizens of Lubbock have truly kept faith with   the founders of their West Texas community; renowned for their   faith, hospitality, and warmth as well as their hardiness and   determination, they have helped to build a vital urban center that   serves not only a large part of West Texas but also the surrounding   region; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2025, as Lubbock Day at   the State Capitol and extend to the members of the visiting   delegation and all their fellow citizens sincere appreciation for   the bright dusty aura they add to the Lone Star State.     Tepper     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 54 was adopted by the House on   February 19, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House