I want to share with everyone another nostalgic find from the archives at the Reese Technology Center. We came across this Christmas card while spring cleaning in our building, the former Wing Headquarters. Its meaning will make more sense if you know the background of the inception of the Reese Technology Center.
In 1991, as the Iron Curtain was lifted, and the Cold War came to an end, the United States began to make adjustments to its spending to reflect the absence of the once belligerent threat of the Soviet Union. The Clinton Administration cut military spending and as a result, in 1995, the Base Re-alignment and Closure Committee (BRAC) launched a massive evaluation of the military’s Air Force bases, with the goal of eliminating those that were not needed. When BRAC representatives visited Reese, the community, completely aware of the economic impact Reese AFB had on the region, exploded with support for the base and base personnel. The City Council along with other local officials began a campaign to keep Reese AFB off of the final BRAC closure list. And although they ultimately failed to preserve Reese AFB for the Lubbock region, their efforts did not go unnoticed. What you see below is one remnant of this overwhelming task.
Inside Text:
‘Tis the Season for Good Cheer
Happy Wishes for the New Year
As Santa frantically fills his sleigh
The Citizens of Lubbock wish to say:
Our Christmas list is short and sweet,
We don’t want more than you can meet
A Plane Ol’ Christmas is our theme
“Let’s Keep Reese” is the Dream.
Thanks for bravely waging the fights
To lead our country to new heights.
Happy Holidays to you and your kin-
Have a Plane Ol’ Christmas,
From beginning to end!
Help us Keep Reese Air Force Base!
So, this Christmas, we want to remind everyone of the passionate and unyielding endeavors of the leadership of this region. These leaders dedicated much thought and hard work into maintaining the USAF presence in Lubbock. Moreover, when the final blow was delivered, and Reese AFB was closed in 1997, public officials swiftly stepped in to devise a plan to fill the economic void that was created. What was born out of those efforts is the thriving research and business park Reese Technology Center has become today. There are currently 17 private companies, 2 higher education institutions and 3 public entities who do business at Reese. We have 282,729 square feet of multi-purpose, flex-use, office, and industrial space available for lease and almost 200 collective acres available with options for build-to-suit or new development. Give us a call today to learn how you can participate in the re-purposing of the assets that were once Reese AFB.
