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BIG TEX FACT PAGE
Bill Bragg selected by The State Fair of Texas (on January 26, 2002) to perform the voice of "BIG TEX"! The 52 foot tall statue, who has become the official mascot of the State Fair Of Texas, celebrated his 50th birthday in the year 2002. Tex wears a size 70 cowboy boot and his hat is a whopping 75 gallon Stetson. Bill's "pipes" will not only be heard through out the 50 acre Park as the booming voice of "BIG TEX", but they will also greet visitors who call the State Fair Information line while the fair is in progress each year (late September thru October) 214/565-9931. Bill is one of only seven (7) persons who have performed the voice, during TEX’s 5o year reign over The Great State Fair of Texas! CLICK HERE to see the official State Fair of Texas Press release about Bill Bragg becoming the new TEX voice! CLICK HERE to see the official Dallas Morning News Article about Bill Bragg becoming the new TEX voice! CLICK HERE and to see the press release from Outdoor Magazine! CLICK HERE and scroll down to the 4th article, to see the press release from Texas Twisted! HISTORY 1949 Conceived as a 52 foot tall "Santa Claus" on November 10th, 1949; to bolster the Christmas shopping business of Kerens, Texas in Navarro County. The "man with the plan" was Howell Brister, the then Secretary of the Kerens Chamber of Commerce. CLICK HERE to read more about it and see a rare photo of the Santa. The original Santa was patterned after a Mr. Hardy Mayo, a local grocer with broad shoulders, long hands and arms; who stood 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighed 270 pounds. CLICK HERE for more information about the Hardy Mayo family. 1950 After the 1950 Christmas season, the novelty wore off, and the 52 foot giant was transported 60 miles to Dallas, Texas and sold to The State Fair of Texas for $750.00. 1952 The statue was transformed into a giant Cowboy, his name was changed; and the character BIG TEX was born. The big guy made his debut in late October of that year; as the official symbol of the Great State Fair of Texas! Many changes to the face and body were made that first year, and TEX (along with his trade mark western clothing) has continued to evolve over the years. Dallas artist and stage designer Jack Bridges was hired to update the face of BIG TEX. Mr. Bridges used a photograph of his own face, a photograph of rancher Doc Simmons and a photograph of Will Rogers, to create the new look. 1953 BIG TEX talks for the first time! Over the years, six (6) different persons have performed the voice, but the most remembered voice was that of Jim Lowe. Mr. Lowe was a pioneer broadcaster in Dallas, and had the top rated morning radio show on WRR-AM for many years. BIG TEX says "H-O-W-D-Y" about 60 times a day during the State Fair each year. 1997 The original body was rebuilt and now includes a cage-like skeleton with 4,200 feet of steel rods. 2000 BIG TEX was able to move for the first time, and began to wave to the millions of State Fair visitors who passed by each year on their way to the famous "Million Dollar Midway". 2001 Visitors spent a record 21.4 million dollars on food and amusement rides at the great State Fair of Texas. 2002 BIG TEX turned 50, got an all new wardrobe and a new voice. Yesterday USA Radio Founder Bill Bragg was chosen as the seventh (7th) person to perform the voice of BIG TEX! CLICK HERE to see the official announcement. "While I can't speak for the State Fair, I will say that I hope to beat Jim Lowe's record of doing the voice for 30 plus years". "Doing TEX is the number one announcing job in Texas and I am deeply honored to have the opportunity", says Bragg VITAL STATISTICS HEIGHT: 52 Feet WEIGHT: 6,000 Pounds HAT: 75 Gallon, measuring 5 feet high SHIRT:
The Williamson-Dickie Company will cover TEX's 30 foot chest with a shirt that BELT: 23 feet long, with a 50 pound buckle PANTS: Size 284W x 185L. The rivets are 3 and a half inches in diameter, the inseam is 200 inches, the fly is 56 inches long and his pants weigh a total of 65 pounds. And, the Dickies' folks worked a week to sew the new pants. BOOTS: Size 70, measuring 7 foot 7 inches high FUN FACTS Charles Noland and a crew of 7 people will use a giant crane to stand BIG TEX upright. Fans have been installed inside the body to cool the workers, who must crawl inside TEX in order to disconnect the crane and attach him to the platform. While BIG TEX is the undisputed "world's tallest Texan", he does have a "little brother" of sorts in Canyon, Texas. CLICK HERE to find out about "Little Tex". |
