2006-031RESOLUTION N0.06-031
OFFICIAL RECORD
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NAMING A U.S.
NAVY SHIP THE USS FORT WORTH.
WHEREAS, Fort Worth was established as a frontier outpost in 1849 on the banks of the Trinity
River by U.S. Army Maj. Ripley Arnold, who named the installation in honor of his recently deceased
commanding officer, Maj. Gen. William Jenkins Worth; and,
WHEREAS, when the U.S. Army left four years later, residents living around the military fort
decided to stay and, over the decades, the outpost has grown into the City of Fort Worth, ranked one of
America's "Most Livable Communities"; and,
WHEREAS, for 157 years, Fort Worth has maintained a strong bond with the U.S. military,
supporting and contributing to the protection of the American people and the defense of freedom; and,
WHEREAS, during World War I, Fort Worth was home to Camp Bowie, a U.S. Army
installation that trained thousands of young men for battle in Europe, while also hosting three training
airfields; and,
WHEREAS, during World War II, Fort Worth's donation of land provided incentives for the
U.S. military to construct Carswell Air Force Base, resulting in a decision by a private aircraft
manufacturer to build a bomber plant near the air base that today still produces outstanding military
aircraft under the corporate banner of Lockheed -Martin Aeronautics, Inc.; and,
WHEREAS, Carswell Air Force Base was transformed in the 1990s into a Naval Air
Station/Joint Reserve Base (NAS/JRB) that today is one of the military's premier facilities and home to
all branches of the military; and,
WHEREAS, Lockheed Martin as well as Bell Helicopter Textron, plus many other local
companies, make up Fort Worth's defense industry sector, renowned for manufacturing the best military
equipment in the world for American's women and men in uniform; and,
WHEREAS, not only have thousands upon thousands of women and men from Fort Worth
served, or are serving, in the U.S. military, but Fort Worth citizens historically have been strong
supporters of the armed forces as evidenced by the united community efforts on behalf of NAS/JRB Fort
Worth during various Base Realignment and Closure (BRACs) rounds; and,
WHEREAS, Fort Worth Congresswoman Kay Granger has written a letter to U.S. Secretary of
Navy Donald C. Winter asking that a future hull — possibly Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Hull 4, 5 or a
later numbered hull in the new LCS class of U.S. Navy ships — be named the USS Fort Worth in honor
of Fort Worth and its long and proud association with the U.S. military; and,
WHEREAS, while 34 American cities, including six in Texas, have active duty.ships named for
their communities, Fort Worth has never had such an honor despite its long military history; and,
WHEREAS, Secretary of Navy Donald C. Winter, who has the exclusive privilege of selecting
names for U.S. Navy ships, would maintain the Navy tradition of selecting names that reflect a place, an
event or an individual with character, spirit and service by naming a ship the USS Fort Worth:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE,TEXAS:
1. That the Southlake City Council supports Congresswoman Kay Granger's request to U.S.
Secretary of Navy Donald C. Winter to name a future LCS the USS Fort Worth to honor Fort Worth's
long and proud association with the U.S. military, and the Tarrant County Mayors' Council asks the
Secretary of Navy to expeditiously name a LCS the USS Fort Worth; and,
2. That the Southlake City Council sincerely believes that the USS Fort Worth name meets the
U.S. Navy Secretary's test that a ship name reflect a city with character, spirit and service; and,
3. That the Southlake City Council urges each and every citizen, student, organization, business
and its friends and neighbors to support the campaign to name a U.S. Navy ship the USS Fort Worth.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE 6th DAY OF JUNE, 2006.
Andy Wambsganss
Mayor
ATTEST: o``••'•• "`' A'.
Lori A. Farwell, TRMC"''•, *••'•••••••••'•• ••''~
City Secretary ''•,,'*,`•