Another icon of my childhood in Oak Cliff / Dallas has been destroyed

The State Fair of Texas runs for almost a month during the fall in Dallas, Texas.  When we were schoolkids, we would always get a day off to visit the fair.  We would get bus passes and fair tickets.  Off we'd go!  We had no fear back then.  We'd ride the city buses along with a bunch of friends and stay after dark at the fair and then head home on the city buses, sated with corny dogs, Belgium waffles, lemonade, turkey legs, salt water taffy and all the other 'food' delights that we wouldn't get the rest of the year.  But we walked everywhere at the Fair Grounds so those empty calories just gave us more fuel to try to win plaster animals, stuffed animals and other trinkets along the Midway!  Ah, the smells of food mixed with the air and the screams of people being brave by riding the old wooden roller coaster or the Wild Mouse!


The one thing that has always stayed constant was the admonition from parents and friends alike:  "If you/we get separated, just meet up at Big Tex."  The Big Man with the booming voice.  
"H-O-W-D-Y!"  This year was his 60th year at the fair...he was there before I was born!  He could be seen almost all over the Fair Grounds and beyond.

Today, he burned.  Sad, sad day for all that remember him fondly!  The local news stations broke in with the news.  Only a few more days of the fair and Big Tex burns.  Bill Bragg, the current voice of Big Tex, was able to get his audio equipment unplugged and out of there before he lost it.

But, like the phoenix, Big Tex will rise from the ashes, stand tall & proud over the fair and once again, we'll hear that  comforting "H-O-W-D-Y" booming forth and we will know that all is right with the world....at least for a few weeks during a Dallas fall.

Farewell for now, Big Tex.