State Fair of Texas

Big Tex was destroyed by fire last year. The 52-ft iconic host was destroyed in an electrical fire on the final Friday of the 2012 State Fair of Texas. Fair officials confirm that Big Tex will be unveiled on opening day of the 2013 season. Fairgoers want Big Tex back and a fund was established to rebuild him. Big Tex has been around since right after the 2nd world war. The merchants were looking for a big draw for the Christmas season and decided a big cowboy was in order. After all what could be better then Santa in Texas the worlds biggest cowboy? So the Kerens Chamber of Commerce, built a 49 foot one - it was suppose to attract shoppers to spent money during the Christmas season. In 1951, State Fair president R. L. Thornton purchased Santa's components for $750 and hired Dallas artist Jack Bridges to create a giant cowboy out of the material. More about the history of Big Tex can be found in the book - The Great State Fair of Texas - An Illustrated History, by Nancy Wiley. Here is an article talking about the new 'Big Tex' coming to the Texas State Fair September 27th, 2013