HCR 5

H.C.R. No. 5
  HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, Don Sparks of Midland, cofounder and chair of the
  board of Discovery Operating, has been named the recipient of the
  2025 Chief Roughneck Award by the Independent Petroleum Association
  of America; and
         WHEREAS, The highest honor awarded by IPAA, the Chief
  Roughneck Award was established in 1955 and recognizes an
  individual whose accomplishments and character represent the
  highest ideals of the nation's oil and natural gas industry;
  Mr. Sparks was selected by his peers as the 66th recipient of the
  award; and
         WHEREAS, Born in Pampa, Mr. Sparks grew up in Amarillo and
  earned a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from The
  University of Texas at Austin in 1962; following his graduation, he
  served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for four years, and he went on
  to hold a number of engineering and consulting roles with Bailey,
  Sipes, Williamson and Runyan and with the Freeport Oil Company and
  Shell Oil Company; he cofounded Discovery Operating in 1973, and
  today, the family-owned independent company operates approximately
  420 wells across Texas and produces more than 15,000 barrels of oil
  and 35 million cubic feet of natural gas per day; in addition,
  Mr. Sparks cofounded Platt, Sparks & Associates, which evaluated
  properties, performed reservoir studies, and provided expert
  testimony for hearings and litigations; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks has benefited his industry in numerous
  capacities; he has been influential in the development of the
  Wolfcamp and Spraberry shales, and he helped establish the logging
  suite and analysis that has been the basis for choosing the landing
  zones in the horizontal wells drilled and completed in the Midland
  Basin; a licensed professional engineer, he has held leadership
  positions with the Permian Basin Chapter of the Society of
  Petroleum Engineers, the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, and
  IPAA, and he has also served with a number of other organizations
  and committees, including the U.S. Department of Energy
  Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee and the
  National Society of Petroleum Engineers; he has received various
  accolades in recognition of his efforts, such as the Leadership
  Award from IPAA and the Top Hand award from the Permian Basin
  Petroleum Association; and
         WHEREAS, Through his outstanding professional contributions,
  Don Sparks has earned the respect and admiration of innumerable
  people, and he is richly deserving of this prestigious honor; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas,
  2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate Don Sparks on receiving the
  2025 Chief Roughneck Award from the Independent Petroleum
  Association of America and extend to him sincere best wishes for the
  future; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mr. Sparks as an expression of high regard by the Texas
  House of Representatives and Senate.
  Craddick
  ______________________________
  ______________________________
     President of the Senate
  Speaker of the House     
         I certify that H.C.R. No. 5 was adopted by the House on August
  27, 2025, by a non-record vote.
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
         I certify that H.C.R. No. 5 was adopted by the Senate on
  September 4, 2025, by a viva-voce vote.
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
           __________________
                Governor