Big Tex

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Big Tex has presided over every Texas State Fair since 1952.

Big Tex is the 52 foot (16 m) high icon of the annual State Fair of Texas held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas (USA). He wears size 70 boots, a 75 gallon hat, a size 100 180/181 shirt and 284W/185L XXXXXL pair of Lee jeans. The pants alone require 72 yards (66 m) of denim and weigh in at 65 pounds (29.5 kg).

Big Tex's humble beginnings were in 1949 as a 49 foot (15 m) tall Santa Claus constructed from iron-pipe drill casing and papier mache in Kerens, Texas to help encourage holiday sales in the town. In 1951, State Fair president R. L. Thornton purchased Santa's components for $750 and had Dallas artist Jack Bridges transform them into a cowboy, and Big Tex was born. Big Tex currently has fiberglass "skin."

Big Tex made his grand debut at the 1952 fair. He was altered the following year to straighten his nose, correct a lascivious wink and allow him to talk. Former disc jockey Al Jones was the first voice of Big Tex, but would fill the role for only one season. His most familiar voice is that of radio announcer, Jim Lowe, who boomed Big Tex's signature "Howdy, folks!" for a total of 39 years.

In 1958, Tex underwent further re-design, bringing him closer to the look of today. The next year, a mechanism was installed that allowed his mouth to move in sync with the announcer's voice. In 1997, Big Tex was given a skeletal makeover including a new hand that waved to passersby. Three years later, his head was animated, allowing it to turn.

Few men have played the part of the voice of Big Tex since its inception. The top two who have were the late Jim Lowe and the controversial Sonny Ray Stolz, who was chosen after a statewide announcer competition which culminated in finals at the Cotton Bowl. Stolz's flamboyant presentation, and uncanny ability to mimic the best-known vocal version of Big Tex set by the long-running voice of Jim Lowe, resulted in one of the State Fair's most-unusual and

memorable seasons. Never in State Fair history had Big Tex led the entire Fair Park in the Pledge of Allegiance. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, when President George W. Bush asked that all Americans pause on a certain day and time to recite the Pledge, Sonny Ray Stolz's stirring and dramatic rendition of same, using the voice of Big Tex, brought many of the State Fair-goers to tears. Stolz chose not to return to reprise his performance as Big Tex for subsequent State Fairs citing personal differences with Fair officials, among other reasons. Stolz's voice was also the first announcer voice to the moon as part of a special NASA Project Apollo on-board entertainment recording for the astronauts. He does acknowledge his season as the voice of Big Tex as, perhaps, the most-memorable time of his life.

[edit] Big Tex in the media

In an episode of the FOX-TV animated series of King Of The Hill, Big Tex is a major focus in the 8th Season episode titled "Girl, You'll Be a Giant Soon," which first aired April 24, 2004, Hank Hill is upset that the State Fair of Texas will not allow propane Bar-B-Que grills to be used. Luanne Platter, Hill's niece, decides to protest this by climbing inside Big Tex and staging a sit-in protest.