[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SALUTE TO ODESSA, TEXAS ON ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LARRY COMBEST

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my 
colleagues to a town in West Texas for which I am proud to serve in the 
U.S. House of Representatives.
  On April 18, 2002, Odessa, Texas will mark the 75th anniversary of 
its incorporation. This will be a day to reflect upon the rich history 
and heritage of Odessa, and to look forward to at least 75 more years 
of prosperity.
  While the origin of the name is not certain, one story is that the 
city was given its name by railroad workers. The terrain reminded them 
of the wide, flat prairies around Russia's city, Odessa, which was the 
wheat distribution center of the world at the time. but if that does 
not suit you, another story is that it was named of a beautiful Indian 
maiden who died in the area.
  Cattle ranches were established in the area in the late 1800's, but 
the railroad really marked the founding of Odessa. A railroad 
construction campsite of the Texas and Pacific Railroad was organized 
in 1881. Odessa quickly became a major cattle shipping hub for the 
ranches in the area.
  Situated in an area that was an ancient sea, Odessa has rich reserves 
of oil and natural gas. The town would become ever-tied to oil and gas 
production after the 1927 discovery of oil. Today, the Permian Basin is 
known throughout the world as one of the major oil field technology 
centers, and Odessa remains a vital segment to the Basin. Every even-
numbered year, the City hosts the Permian Basin International Oil Show, 
celebrating its links to the industry with the world's largest inland 
exhibit of oilfield products and services.
  Odessa is home to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, a 
branch of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, and Odessa College. It 
also has an excellent coliseum exhibit complex, a combined performing 
symphony with neighbor city Midland, the Ellen Noel Art Museum, a 
Presidential Museum, and two working playhouses. Some of you may know 
the group of volunteers known as the Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang, which has 
been in existence over 60 years and has fed barbeque to people all over 
the world, all the while promoting the City of Odessa. I am proud to be 
an honorary member of this terrific and hard-working group.
  Known for football prowess, Odessa is home to the Permian High School 
Panthers and the Odessa High School Broncos, which each have captured 
numerous state titles. We also can claim to have the winners of minor 
league hockey's Governor's Cup, the Odessa Jackalopes.
  Odessa is a thriving city, thanks to the petroleum business, and many 
other ranching, farming, industrial and enterprise developments. Today 
it is more than twenty times the size it was when oil was discovered, 
and she is Texas' 23rd largest city.
  I am very proud to represent the citizens of Odessa here in the House 
of Representatives. I salute the City, her leaders, and her citizens on 
this very special occasion. I offer my sincere best wishes for at least 
another 75 years of prosperity and good fortune.

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