HR437 - Recognizing March 5, 2025, as Wichita Falls Day at the State Capitol.

      H.R. No. 437       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Proud residents of Wichita Falls are gathering in   Austin on March 5, 2025, to celebrate Wichita Falls Day at the State   Capitol; and          WHEREAS, Wichita Falls, situated in southeast Wichita   County, was founded after the arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver   City Railroad on September 26, 1882; the railroad allowed local   farmers and ranchers to transport crops and livestock to distant   markets, facilitating the growth of the area's agricultural   economy; Wichita Falls was named the county seat in November 1883,   and it was officially incorporated on July 29, 1889; and          WHEREAS, By 1910, additional railroad lines had been built   that reinforced the city's status as a shipping junction for   farmers and ranchers; wheat later supplanted corn as the primary   cash crop grown in the area, and in 1918, the discovery of oil   sparked a wave of exploration throughout North Texas; in 1933, the   growth of the community necessitated the creation of a manmade   lake, Lake Wichita, to supply its water; during World War I, Wichita   Falls welcomed the arrival of an Army Air Corps training facility   known as Call Field, which preceded the opening of Sheppard Field,   now Sheppard Air Force Base, in 1941; and          WHEREAS, By the mid-20th century, manufacturing had become an   increasingly important industry, earning Wichita Falls the   nickname "Factory City"; in 1979, the city was struck by a tornado   that destroyed a large portion of its southwestern area, but it   rebounded in the years that followed and was recognized nationally   for its rapid recovery; and          WHEREAS, Today, Wichita Falls is home to more than 100,000   residents, representing the overwhelming majority of Wichita   County's population; the city is located within two hours of two   metropolitan areas, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Oklahoma   City, and it offers a family-friendly environment with an expansive   parks system and a wide range of amenities such as museums,   community theaters, golf courses, and family entertainment   centers; and          WHEREAS, The community's educational institutions include   the Wichita Falls Independent School District, Midwestern State   University, and Vernon College, and it is home to a number of   state-of-the-art medical facilities that make it a regional   destination for health care; the city continues to enjoy a strong   manufacturing base that supplies products for numerous industries;   moreover, the community benefits from the efforts of the Wichita   Falls Chamber of Commerce, which has worked diligently to promote   its economic development since 1901; and          WHEREAS, Wichita Falls has earned a well-deserved reputation   as an outstanding place to live and work, and its citizens may take   justifiable pride in the unique contributions that their community   has made to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby recognize March 5, 2025, as Wichita Falls Day at   the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting   delegation.     Frank     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 437 was adopted by the House on March   5, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House