Big Tex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Tex |
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Big Tex in 2013
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| General information | |
| Location | Fair Park in Dallas |
| Coordinates | 32°46′47″N 96°45′52″W / 32.7797°N 96.7644°W |
| Completed | 2013 (1949–2012, original) |
| Height | 55 feet |
Big Tex is a giant, 55-foot-tall cowboy figure. He is a famous symbol of the yearly State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Texas, United States. Big Tex has become a well-known cultural icon for both Dallas and the entire state of Texas.
Since 1952, Big Tex has greeted visitors to the fair. His spot at the fairgrounds is a popular meeting place for everyone.
On October 19, 2012, during the last weekend of the fair, Big Tex was sadly destroyed by an electrical fire. The fire started in his right boot and quickly moved up his body. A new Big Tex was built and first appeared on September 26, 2013.
In September 2020, Big Tex even wore a mask. This was because the fair was closed that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas.
Contents
History of Big Tex
How Big Tex Began
The town of Kerens, Texas is known as the "Birthplace of Big Tex." But he didn't start as a cowboy! In 1949, he was a 49-foot-tall Santa Claus. This Santa was made from iron parts, papier mache, and rope.
The idea came from Howell Brister, who managed the Chamber of Commerce. He wanted to attract shoppers during the holidays. This "World's Largest Santa Claus" stood over Colket Avenue for two holiday seasons. He even got attention from newspapers around the world. Local people helped build the Santa, welding his frame and sewing his clothes.
After two years, people weren't as excited about the Santa. So, Kerens decided to sell him. In 1951, the president of the State Fair, R. L. Thornton, bought Santa's parts for $750. Artist Jack Bridges then changed Santa into a cowboy, and "Big Tex" was born!
Big Tex Through the Years (1952-2012)
Big Tex first appeared at the 1952 fair. He was a 52-foot cowboy wearing denim jeans and a plaid shirt. The H. D. Lee Company donated his clothes. Jack Bridges used photos of different people to create Big Tex's face.
After the fair, his look was slightly changed to make his nose straighter. In 1953, Big Tex started to speak! A special motor and speaker system in his head made his jaw move. This made it look like he was really talking.
In 1955, Big Tex got his first new set of clothes, again from the H. D. Lee Company. Over the years, his papier mache skin was replaced with stronger fiberglass. His original head was stored away and later sold in 1993.
In 1961, there was talk of building a Big Tex statue that would stay up all year. But he remained a seasonal feature, only appearing during the fair. His display area, Big Tex Circle, was made larger in 1966.
Big Tex visited his hometown of Kerens, Texas, in 1981. He helped celebrate the city's 100th birthday. He continued to travel for special events until the mid-1980s.
In 1997, Big Tex got a new steel skeleton. This new frame weighed 6,000 pounds and changed his posture. It also gave him a new hand that could wave to people. Three years later, his neck could turn, and his mouth was improved.
Big Tex celebrated his 50th birthday in 2002. He received a giant birthday cake and even an AARP card! Gray was added to his hair and wrinkles to his face and hands to show him "aging." In 2012, the State Fair of Texas celebrated Big Tex's 60th birthday.
The Fire and Rebuilding Big Tex
On the morning of October 19, 2012, a fire started inside Big Tex. This was on his 60th birthday and the last weekend of the fair. His clothes, face, and hat were completely destroyed in just minutes. Many people watched as it happened.
An investigation found that the fire began in an electrical box under his right boot. This box likely powered the air compressor that kept his clothes inflated.
News of the fire spread across the country. Fair officials promised to rebuild Big Tex "bigger and better" for the 2013 fair.
A new Big Tex was secretly built in 2013 by SRO Associates and Texas Scenic Co. It cost $500,000 to create. The new statue weighs 19,000 pounds more than the old one, making him a total of 25,000 pounds. This extra weight helps Big Tex stand strong in 100 mph winds without needing support wires. His height was also increased by 1 yard, making him 55 feet tall. The Big Tex Circle area was also made larger and stronger for the new, bigger statue.
Big Tex's Amazing Clothes
Big Tex usually gets new clothes every three years. The Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company designs and makes them. His clothes were last replaced in 2022.
Before 2013, Big Tex wore size 70 boots and a 75-gallon hat. His shirt was a size 100 and made from nylon awning fabric. His Dickies jeans were a huge 284W/185L (waist/length) 5X size. Just his pants needed 72 yards of denim and weighed 65 pounds! His outfits sometimes included other items related to the fair's theme.
Big Tex has had a few clothing problems over the years. In 1961, strong winds from Hurricane Carla tore his clothes. In 1970, his giant shirt was stolen from a truck, which caused a lot of news.
The new Big Tex, built in 2013, needed even larger clothes. His new Dickie shirt has a 14-foot collar and 23-foot sleeves. It weighs 130 pounds and is made from 150 yards of awning material. His new Dickie jeans have a 27-foot waist and a 22-foot inseam. They weigh 100 pounds and are made from 100 yards of denim.
The Voices of Big Tex
Big Tex greets fairgoers with his famous, friendly drawl: "HOOOOOOWDEEEEE, FOOOOOOLKS!!!" He also makes announcements throughout the State Fair of Texas. Only a few men have been his booming voice over six decades. They perform daily from a small booth called the "doghouse."
Al Jones, a disc jockey, was the first voice of Big Tex from 1952 to 1955. Radio announcer Jim Lowe became the most famous voice of Big Tex, starting in 1956. He continued until 1982. Bob Sonnemaker then took over for four years.
Jim Lowe returned to voice Big Tex in 1987. He continued for eleven more years, retiring after the 1998 fair due to health issues.
After Lowe's retirement, Dan Alexander voiced Big Tex from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, a statewide competition was held at the Cotton Bowl. Sonny Ray Stolz was chosen as the next voice. However, after only one season, Sonny decided not to continue. The fair then brought in Bill Bragg, who was the runner-up, in 2002.
After the 2012 State Fair, Bill Bragg was let go. He had revealed himself as the voice of Big Tex at a charity event, which broke fair rules. In 2013, Bob Boykin began voicing Big Tex. He continued for six years until the 2019 fair. As of 2021, Big Tex has a new voice performer, but their name is kept secret for now.
You can hear the voice of the 1955 Big Tex (Al Jones) on a recording of NBC's live show Wide Wide World. This recording includes parts from the State Fair.
Big Tex in Pop Culture
Big Tex is a very popular figure and has appeared in many places:
- The State Fair of Texas uses Big Tex in all its advertising. His website address is even www.bigtex.com.
- The 1962 movie State Fair was filmed at the State Fair of Texas. It shows Big Tex and the fairgrounds.
- Big Tex is on the cover of a 1983 comic book called "The Uncanny X-Men at the State Fair of Texas."
- In an episode of the TV cartoon King of the Hill called "Girl, You'll Be a Giant Soon," Big Tex is a main part of the story. Luanne Platter climbs inside Big Tex to protest.
- Big Tex also appears in another King of the Hill episode, "How to Fire a Rifle Without Really Trying."
- In 2005, the State Fair of Texas started the Big Tex Choice Awards. This is a yearly food competition for fair vendors. The trophy looks like an Academy Award Oscar with a giant Big Tex head.
- The name and logo for a record label called Burning Texan Records were inspired by the 2012 fire.
- The album cover for Horror Cult's The Texorcist shows Big Tex on fire.
- Big Tex's image and famous pose are often used in advertisements in the Texas area.
- Big Tex was featured on a poster for the Japanese J-Pop group "Puffy AmiYumi" for their 2017 US concert tour.
- The Dallas band Tripping Daisy wrote a song in 1998 called "Jim's Longtime Voice." It was a tribute to Jim Lowe after he retired as Big Tex's voice.
- Another cowboy statue in Conlen, Texas was nicknamed "Big Tex." It was built in 1954 for a restaurant.
- In an episode of the animated series Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld, Jentry attends the state fair. Big Tex comes to life and goes on a rampage. Jentry has to destroy him with her fire powers.
