How old is Big Tex? From face lifts to growth spurts, what to know about State Fair cowboy
The State Fair of Texas wouldn’t be the same without the 55-foot-tall animatronic cowboy Big Tex greeting fair goers with a bellowing “Howdy, folks!”
Believe it or not, the State Fair of Texas ran for 66 years before its iconic mascot came to town.
Through the years, the larger-than-life figure has had face lifts, growth spurts and voice changes.
Here’s what to know about Big Tex, from his beginnings as a small town Santa Claus to his status as the 71-year-old State Fair of Texas greeter.
How long has Big Tex been around?
Big Tex made his debut at the 1952 State Fair of Texas, but before that he had a job as a small town Santa Claus.
The chamber of commerce of Kerens — about an hour from Dallas — created a tall Santa Claus figure to promote holiday shopping in 1949, according to information from the State Fair of Texas.
The 49-foot-tall figure was made of iron-pipe drill casing and paper mache with cloth used for the clothing and 7-foot lengths of unravelled rope for the beard.
In 1951, State Fair of Texas officials created the promotional cartoon character “Big Tex,” dressed in a red-checked shirt, cowboy hat and boots.
Fair officials purchased the Kerens Santa Claus in late 1951 for $750 which would be about $8,900 in 2023.
Dallas artist Jack Bridges was tasked with giving Big Tex a more cowboy-like appearance, slimming his face and torso.
Big Tex also grew a couple feet for his debut year, standing at 52 feet in 1952.
Who voices Big Tex?
Big Tex was given a voice in 1953 and is known for greeting fair goers with a booming “Howdy, folks!”
The people who voice Big Tex are typically kept anonymous during their tenure, but here are some of the people who gave the larger-than-life cowboy his voice.
Fort Worth native Jim Lowe voiced Big Tex from 1953 until his retirement in 1998. He took a break from the role between 1982 to 1989.
Lowe, who died in 2000, established many of the characteristics associated with Big Tex today.
Houston native Sonny Ray Stolz took on the role in 2001 but resigned in November of that year.
North Texan Bill Bragg — who was the runner up to Stolz — took on the role in 2002. His contract was not renewed after 2012, allegedly for using the Big Tex persona outside of the State Fair of Texas.
Dallas-born Robert “Bob” Boykin took on the role in 2013 until his death in 2020. According to a State Fair of Texas release, he had dreamed of voicing Big Tex since he was a young boy.
When did Big Tex burn down?
An electrical short caused a fire to break out in the 52-foot structure on the morning of Oct. 19, 2012.
Flames consumed the iconic cowboy and within 12 minutes Big Tex was just a skeletal frame.
Big Tex’s structure was anchored deep in the ground, which prevented it from toppling over. The landscaped area around him was also left uncharred.
But you can’t keep a good man down.
Big Tex made his return the following year, right on time for the 2013 State Fair of Texas.
Since 2013, Big Tex has stood a little taller at 55 feet.
Who makes clothes for Big Tex?
He may reside in Dallas, but Big Tex gets his clothes from Fort Worth.
His outfit is from Dickies, which opened in 1922 at 509 West Vickery in Fort Worth.
Earlier this year, the Star-Telegram reported that Dickies planned to move its headquarters to The Tower complex in downtown.
According to the State Fair of Texas, it takes two weeks to complete his shirt which runs a size 200 x 325.
His size 434 x 240 jeans are replicas of Dickies popular 5-pocket jeans and take a week to complete.
He wears a 95-gallon hat and his size 96 boots are a replica of a 1949 boot designed by Texas brand Lucchese.
Since 2019, the State Fair of Texas has held a “Big Tex Boot Design Contest” for people to submit boot design ideas. The winning design goes on Big Tex’s boots all 24 days of the fair and the winner is outfitted with a pair of their own Lucchese boots.
