The initial drop in Texas production was pretty subtle (with dates this time):

1972:   3.452 mbpd

1973:    3.444

  1.   3.357

  2.   3.248

1976:    3.153
Westexas, did you ever receive any response to your letters to Dallas Morning News and Startlegram?
I traded some e-mails with one journalist, but nothing official.