1998: Panthers strike back

1998: Panthers strike back

A year after OHS beat the Permian Panthers the Roy Williams-led Panthers were back on top 36-33.

In other news, in February, UTPB completed its first new building in 25 years. The 27,830-square foot building, which includes a visual arts studio, cost about $25.8 million. In other education news, the school board approved a salary schedule June 16 that gave ECISD teachers and librarians an average 3.11 percent pay increase for the next academic year.

    Klan rally: In Late January, four people claiming to be members of the Ku Klux Klan spoke on the steps of the courthouse as a crowd of 100 gathered to boo and taunt them. Two of the four were dressed in cloaks and pointed hats. The Klan came to the courthouse again in June, and was met by a crowd of 200. Both incidents were peaceful, and no arrests were made.

    Drug task force: In June, charges of criminal wrongdoing brought against the Permian Basin Drug Task Force prompted the governor's office to discontinue funding, a move that put the agency out of business. A new drug task force was organized in September called the West Texas Narcotics Enforcement Tax Force.

    Miss Texas: In July, Odessa native Tatum Hubbard was named Miss Texas. "I feel fantastic," Hubbard declared. "It was the last time I could compete because contestants must be between 17 and 24. So it was a now or never situation." She competed at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City in mid-September.

    Economy: The Odessa City council cut Community Development Block Grant funding for a revolving small business loan program while approving an $85,000 expenditure which would be used to purchase the Floyd Gwin Soccer complex. Later in the year, using resources from a voter-approved economic development fund, the Odessa Development Corporation convinced a Spokane telecommunications supplier to open a facility on the west side of town. The plant was expected to create 51 permanent full time jobs within five years. Also, a new oilfield parts manufacturing company began moving its plant from Kansas to Odessa, while one of the biggest ostrich raising companies in the nation bought a 400-acre hatchery and slaughterhouse in southeast Ector County.

Headlines:

    * On Dec. 11, 9.75 inches of snow were recorded at Midland International Airport, the largest recorded snowfall in Midland-Odessa history. As much as a foot of snow was reported in some area towns.

    * After reaching almost $27 a barrel in February, crude oil prices plunged to below $11 in December, triggering layoffs and downsizing by petroleum companies throughout West Texas.

    * Midland Lee beats San Antonio MacArthur 54-0 for the state Class 5A Division II football championship, the 16th state title won by a member of the so-called "Little Southwest Conference" of schools in Odessa, Midland, San Angelo and Abilene.

    Information is drawn from news accounts, archives and other historical records.

Click here for 1998 Season Statistics

Click here for 1998 Individual Statistics