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