Today, with tongue somewhat in cheek, I must sadly report that Big Tex is dead. Deceased. Departed. Gone. Finito.
Dallas firefighters received an unusual message from the dispatcher yesterday morning at about 10:15. "Got a rather tall cowboy with all his clothes burned off," the dispatcher said.
A blaze, which is said to have been electrical in nature, completely destroyed Big Tex in about 10 minutes, according to witnesses. Preliminary reports say that a short in the right boot of the figure was the cause of the accident. When the fire was extinguished, only the hands, arms and enormous Dickies cowboy belt buckle remained, but it was reported that Tex gamely kept drawling his famous welcome even as he met his tragic end.
Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings promises that Big Tex will be rebuilt and will be better than ever for the 21st century.
From dallasnews.com and cnn.com
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| Big Tex in flames, captured by fairgoer Haley Breedlove cnn.com |
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| The end of a 1950s icon corvetteforum.com |
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| Big Tex before his tragic demise examiner.com |
I could hear the Texan accent in the dispatch message, very dry and matter of fact! I believe Texan's would fit into Australia really well! Sorry to hear about 'Ole Tex' that's 'shithouse' as we say! I look forward to seeing his 21st rebirth :)
ReplyDeleteThere are people here who are acting as if an important public figure is dead. They're shedding real tears and practically wanting to give the scrap a funeral. Thank goodness, the comic aspect of the whole thing wasn't lost on some of us. :) I mean, really...Can you imagine walking into the fairgrounds and being greeted by a flaming Tex kabob drawling "Howdy, folks"? You can't make something like that up!
DeleteOMG! That's dreadful news Dana. I know worse things could happen, with real live people involved etc, but I think this is really sad. I liked Big Tex (even though I never met 'him')
ReplyDeleteBet his replacement will be no way near as cool.
Fortunately, no one was hurt...and the people who went to the fair yesterday morning will have one hell of a story to tell for the rest of their lives!
DeleteI'm hoping the new model won't have such a creepy face. They were supposed to have reconstructed the original face so he didn't look so much like a dirty old man, but he still looked a little on the deviant side to me.
Sad, but as you suggest, this could be an opportunity for a cowboy makeover.
DeleteBig Tex got a major makeover in 1997 and new clothing every few years, so it wasn't really the original statue that was erected in 1952. All that was truly old was the tradition, and there will be a new Big Tex by the time the fair opens next year, so the tradition won't be lost. I suppose that's why I'm not more upset.
DeleteWhat I consider ironic, as well as infuriating, is that I live in an area where developers have no qualms about tearing down historically significant Cliff May or A. Quincy Jones houses to make room for more McMansions, and many of the same people who are crying about Big Tex don't have a problem with that.
Oh gosh....that's sad. I never got to see him in person but I hope that they do give him a similar face. The old one was a hoot!
ReplyDeleteYou have a point. He would look a little weird with movie star good looks. Maybe just a little snipped off the nose and chin would make him look a little less sinister...:)
DeleteWow! That is something. I am certainly glad that now actual people were hurt. I can see that people were upset, local landmark, iconic, all that. He looks pretty Halloween at this point.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Big Tex was a well-loved, iconic structure, and the loss of property was unfortunate...but I'm sure it was also well insured and will be back in all its glory next year. I found it highly offensive when fellow Texans immediately started tweeting about the event and comparing it with 9/11. Those folks should be ashamed of themselves for comparing the loss of a statue...and a comic one, built purely for commercial purposes, at that...with the loss of human lives.
DeleteSillies. My comment should have said "were not hurt" but you figured it out.
DeleteThat's such a shame Dana!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous icon Big Tex was!
The end of an era. Hope his replacement is worthy.x
I'm sure Tex will come back more magnificent than ever!
DeleteSuch a shame! But at least there are plans to bring him back. Friend Kelcie made a "memorial" to Big Tex at the Costume Ball this saturday, using the Flamingo Drive-In Cowboy "George". Paying tribute with a little paper sign taped to him "R.I.P Big Tex, a glorious way to go." and a few Texas wild flowers at his feet.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I'm a little excited about seeing what the new one looks like!
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