Leopard Look: Big Tex

Editor’s Note: The following dialogue from State Fair of Texas figure Big Tex is fictional but accurate. The complete history of Big Tex can be found at https://bigtex.com/about-us/big-tex/.

At a Glance:

Favorite boot brand: Luchese

Favorite Fair activity: People-watching

Catchphrase: Howdy folks!

Height: 55 feet

Age: 66 years old

Looking Deeper:

The Red Ledger: How long have you been welcoming guests at the State Fair of Texas?

Big Tex: I’ve been on this job for over 65 years now after I took up the position in 1952. But before the big move to Dallas, I was considered the world’s largest Santa Claus in Kerens, Texas.

TRL: What was it like being Santa Claus before Big Tex?

BT: During the 1949 Christmas season, I was a hit to the Kerens, Texas locals, and I even boosted Christmas spirit and sales that year. However, State Fair of Texas officials purchased me in 1951 for only $750 to support their ad campaign, and I was transformed into the cowboy you see today.

TRL: What’s the best part of the job?

BT: It’s been an honor to photobomb just about everyone’s photos every year. Being 55 feet tall does have its perks.

TRL: What’s the weather like up there?

BT: Of course, my 95-gallon hat is able to block most of Texas’s summer sun, and I haven’t gotten sunburned once if we skip over my incident in 2012.

TRL: Does it ever get boring standing in the same spot every year?

BT: Not at all. At my height, I can hear music from the Chevrolet Main Stage, listen to the crowd cheering over at Cotton Bowl Stadium, and scope out the best places to eat all at once. There are new people at the fair all the time, so all the company sure is nice.

TRL: Where do you go during the offseason?

BT: Sadly, when I’m done watching over the visitors of Fair Park, I sit dismantled in a pile, dreaming of the amazing things I’ll see next year. With my arms and legs stacked up in front of me, I can only wait solemnly and imagine what will become of the State Fair of Texas 2019.

TRL: Are there any new changes fair-goers should look forward to this year?

BT: If anyone looks closely, they’ll notice I got new boots this year. Size 96 and 12 feet long, they really complete the outfit. I can’t wait to stand in them for many years to come!

About the Contributors

Kelsey Carroll, Section Editor

Senior Kelsey Carroll has never owned a dog or a cat, but she’s the proud caretaker of two mini cacti living their life on her windowsill, and she thinks that’s just enough. She never forgets to water them weekly, as she’s a fond planner user who prides herself on writing down just about any task, even “write staff bio,” which she just proudly accomplished. When she’s not strumming twangy ukulele chords in her bedroom on the weekends or attempting to play a cello countermelody in class during the week, Kelsey can be found dancing to whatever plays in her earbuds (which are constantly on her) while editing photos until her laptop battery dies each night. Her days start before the sun’s up at swim team, and end with her furiously deciding which of her 16 pairs of Harry Potter socks to wear the next day. Whether she’s shooting sideline photos and dodging officials on the football field, or manning a jumbotron camera for the fans to see, Kelsey loves to be involved in any visual coverage she can get her hands on. Although she’s soft spoken, Kelsey hopes to share stories through her photos and writing as she tackles her roles as photographer, community editor, and social media editor during her fourth and final year on staff.

Grace Nguyen, Section Editor

Fueled daily by three iced vanilla coffees, standing at 5’2”, Grace Nguyen will walk into the E103 door with no problem. Grace is entering senior year, and the only reason she is believed to have survived high school is because of the napping couch in the photography studio. During her time on staff, Grace has been to almost every football game, win or loss, and wouldn’t have changed a thing. Yes, Grace has been tackled by football players, run over by coaches, and body slammed by referees. Nonetheless, Grace will confidently walk on the field this year, bruises and all, alongside her sideline media team. Stepping outside the newsroom, which is rare, Grace enjoys playing softball, hanging out with family and friends, and finding excuses to go to every $3 Pazookie Tuesdays at BJ’s. After high school, Grace hopes to pursue a career in sports photojournalism, so watch out for her still getting run over by athletes on ESPN in the years to come. Although it’s bittersweet to leave newspaper upon graduation, Grace is thankful for all the opportunities that she’s had on staff. Through The Red Ledger, Grace created long-lasting friendships and won a lot of awards that she never imagined was possible. Grace hopes that current and future staffers will think of this national-award-winning publication the same way as she did–a second family and their home away from home.

The Red Ledger

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The Red Ledger

Leopard Look: Big Tex

At a Glance:

Looking Deeper:

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