Introduction
Just like there's nothing small about
Texas, there's nothing small about the 13th Congressional
District. It's one of the largest districts in the State, and one
of the largest in the Nation.
Larger than 11 states and covering over 30,000 square miles and
all or part of 44 counties, the 13th District of Texas encompasses
the Texas Panhandle and stretches between the Oklahoma and New
Mexico borders, winds across the Panhandle into the South Plains
north of Lubbock, then runs east across the Red River Valley
through Wichita Falls.
In addition to being one of the largest congressional districts in
America geographically, the 13th District is also a leader in many
other areas of importance to both the State of Texas and the
United States.
Cattle, Crops, & Oil
The Ranching industry plays an important role in the 13th District. A large
portion of the United States fed cattle are fed in 13th and 19th
Districts -- one of the largest concentration of fed cattle
production in the country. The 13th District is also home to one
of the Nation's oldest and largest cattle auctions, located in
Amarillo just minutes from downtown.
The 13th District farmers are
national leaders in growing such crops as wheat and corn, and
world leaders in growing seed milo, accounting for -- when
combined with farmers from the neighboring 19th Congressional
District -- 90 percent of the world's production in this area.
Even though the boom years of the 1980s are past, Texas remains
the nation's leader in oil and gas exploration and production.
Much of this activity is centered in the 13th District. In fact,
the 13th District is one of the top ten natural gas producing
districts in the country. It's also home to the world's largest
supply of crude helium.
Route 66 & the Famous Mineral Water
The 13th District is also home to some of the most recognizable
cultural landmarks of the last 40 years.
Leading
the way is one of the most famous roads in the world -- Route 66.
Memorialized in song and on TV, Route 66 is a road that defined
America in the 1950s, and a symbol of that era today. It's also
something people can experience for themselves by driving a
classic stretch of the classic highway that cuts across the
Panhandle from the town of Shamrock to the city of Amarillo.
The discovery of what appeared to be medicinal qualities in the
water made the city of Mineral Wells nationally famous in the late
19th and early 20th Centuries. In 1877, James Alvis Lynch
settled in a Texas valley 48 miles West of Fort Worth. He
dug a well for drinking water but then discovered the water had
"healing powers" which cured his wife's rheumatism. And so
he named the valley Mineral Wells. Word quickly spread
through out the country about the remedial mineral water.
After the completion of the first passenger train in 1891,
thousands of health-seeking-drinkers began to travel annually to
Mineral Wells.
In 1929, the Baker Hotel was built to
offer therapeutic baths and massages to the many visitors.
T.B. Baker, a wealthy hotel businessman, spent $1.2 million
dollars to build the famous 450 room hotel. Some the famous
names to appear on the Baker Hotel guest list include Judy
Garland, Clark Gable, the Three Stooges, Lyndon Johnson and Lady
Bird, Will Rogers, Marlene Dietrich, Mary Martin, General
Pershing, Dorothy Lamour, Jean Harlow, Sammy Kaye, Jack Dempsey,
Helen Keller, and Ronald Reagan.
The 13th District is home to many other cultural icons, landmarks
and events. The Paul Newman movie Hud was filmed in Claude, while
the closing sunset in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
was filmed in the same area. Bruce Springsteen found the inspiration
for one of his best known songs at the Cadillac Ranch, which is
located just outside of Amarillo.
The 13th District is also the site of one of the best known and
most challenging bike races in the Nation -- the "Hotter 'N Hell
Hundred," which takes place in Wichita Falls every August and
attracts bicyclists from all over the world.
Ranches, Rodeos & a Rich Western
Heritage
The 13th District is also the home of famed rancher and Texas
Ranger Charles Goodnight, who invented the chuck wagon and was the
inspiration for a character in Lonesome Dove and
another one of Larry McMurtry's novels, Streets of Laredo.
The spirit of Charles Goodnight is alive and well in the 13th
District today, and can be found in a variety of events and
activities held throughout the year. Whether it's attending an
evening performance of the internationally acclaimed musical
drama, Texas, held outdoor at Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo,
enjoying the Texas Ranch Roundup in Wichita Falls, or watching one
of the many rodeos held in cities and towns throughout the area,
the 13th District has a rich, western heritage for everyone to
experience and enjoy.
That rich western heritage can also be found at any of the many
working ranches which are located throughout the area. The 13th
District is home to some of the biggest ranches in the United
States, including the 6666 ("Four Sixes") ranch in Carson and King
Counties, the Pitchfork Ranch in King County, and the Waggoner
ranch,
which is located in King and Wilbarger Counties and is the largest
contiguous ranch in the State of Texas. The 13th District is also
home to the JA Ranch in Armstrong and Donley Counties, which was
founded by Charles Goodnight in the 1870s is still in operation.
Finally, the 13th District is where Quanah Parker, the last great
war Chief of the Commanches lived with his tribe in the late 1800s
and where a town bearing his name can be found today.
Defending Democracy & the Red, White &
Blue
In the 13th District there are two pillars of the U.S. military
establishment which helped America win the Cold War and are
continuing to help us keep the peace today.
Located just outside of Wichita Falls is Sheppard Air Force Base.
In operation since before World War II, Sheppard now employs and
trains over 13,000 men and women. It's home to the Euro-NATO Joint
Jet Training Program (ENJJPT), which trains pilots from Germany,
Spain, Belgium and NATO's other member countries. It's also home
to aircraft maintenance, health care, dental, and other
inter-service instructional schools. With these different
missions, Sheppard has become a critical link in the U.S. national
security chain.
The
Pantex Plant is located in the center of the District about 17
miles northeast of Amarillo. Started as a munitions factory at the
outset of World War II, Pantex was acquired by the old Atomic
Energy Commission in 1951 and transformed into the nation's only
nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. It's mission a
secret until 1991, the Pantex Plant remains one of the unsung
heroes of the past 40 years. With its mission now geared toward
taking weapons apart and keeping our nuclear arsenal safe, secure
and reliable, Pantex is assured of playing a vital and continuing
role in our nation's security well into the 21st century.
Colleges, Universities & Schools of
Higher Learning
The 13th District takes great pride in the fact that it's home to
seven outstanding colleges, universities, and schools of higher
learning.
These schools include:
Amarillo College in Amarillo;
Clarendon College in Clarendon;
Frank Phillips College in Borger;
Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls;
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo;
Vernon Regional Junior College in Vernon; and
West Texas A&M University
in Canyon.