Historic Midland

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A program for the Pink Elephant Ball,
sponsored by the Midland County
Republican Women’s Club, advertises
the high profile political event.
County continued to become more and more
Republican.
I filed a lawsuit to keep Midland from being
split into two or more legislative districts. The
lawsuit ended up in the Texas Supreme Court.
Winning this lawsuit not only allowed Midland
to stay in one legislative district, but it enabled
Midland County to maximize its strength as a
heavy voting Republican county. This lawsuit
became a landmark case for all future legislative
house redistricting.
Midland went from a Democratic county in
the early 1960s to almost totally Republican
and very conservative in the late 1990s. Our
growth as a Republican county has been followed
by the growth of the Republican Party in
the State of Texas and in the surrounding West
Texas counties.
Not only was Midland continuing to become
more Republican in the 1960s, 1970s and
1980s, it had an exceptional number of local
representatives that became involved and
became leaders at the State Republican Party
level. During those years, Midland had exceptional
representation—more from our one
county than from any other.
Today, Texas has a Republican Governor, two
Republican U.S. Senators, a Republican majority
Supreme Court, several statewide elected
Republican officials and U.S. Congressmen,
Republican control of the State Senate and is
getting ready to have Republican control of the
State House of Representatives. We have seen
Midland go from two elected Republican officials
in 1962 to 1997, when every elected official
in the county save one is Republican. It is
projected that Republicans will sweep all
statewide offices in the 1998 election.
Foundations Give a “Glow”
To Life In Midland
By Jack Swallow
ABELL-HANGER FOUNDATION
George Thomas Abell was born at Wakeeney,
Kansas. He graduated from Colorado A&M. In
1927, he moved to Midland, Texas, where he
trained himself as a geologist and entered the
petroleum business as an independent oil operator.
In 1939, he was married to Gladys Hanger
of Fort Worth.
During his professional career, he was active
in the Independent Petroleum Association of
America, Texas Independent Producers and
Royalty Owners Association, Mid-Continent Oil
and Gas Association, and the Permian Basin
Petroleum Association. He was a charter member
of the Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers
Association.
Abell was also active in many civic, community,
cultural, social, educational and historical
activities. He was a member and former president
of the Board of Education of the Midland
Independent School District. He was awarded a
life membership in the Texas Congress of the
Parent-Teacher Association. He served as the
chairman of the first capital funds campaign for
Midland Memorial Hospital and was a member
of the hospital’s Board of Trustees and Board of
Governors. A member of the Downtown
Midland Rotary Club, he was recognized on
numerous occasions for his contributions to the
civic, cultural and educational betterment and
growth of Midland.
George Abell devoted much time to the Boy
Scouts of America.
As a director of the Midland Chamber of
Commerce, Mr. Abell originated the idea of the
Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and
Hall of Fame. He spent much of his time and effort
collecting antique oil field equipment now displayed
on the Museum’s grounds. Many of the oil
paintings of historical events which are on display
at the museum were researched by George and
commissioned by the Abell-Hanger Foundation.
He was the first president of the Museum’s Board
of Trustees and is a member of the Hall of Fame.
Gladys Hanger Abell graduated from Paschal
High School and attended Texas Christian
University and the University of Texas at Austin.
Mrs. Abell was an active champion of civic and
cultural causes, contributing her time and financial
resources as one of West Texas’ most philanthropic
citizens.
The Abell-Hanger Foundation was created by
George Thomas and Gladys Hanger Abell to
carry on the philanthropic endeavors which
they pursued during their lifetimes.
The Abell-Hanger Foundation has given
more than $75 million since June 30, 1954.
68 ✦ HISTORIC MIDLAND