Hank Hill sheds a single tear - Big Tex gone

[bouv]

Big Tex, the lovable (and kind of creepy,) mascot of the Texas State Fire caught fire today.

“There is definitely electrical in the working of Big Tex … to provide movement of the mouth and head,” Gooding said. “It would not surprise me if it did happen – if it did start with electrical.”
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Despite what she called a “sad” setback, Gooding said work would begin to replace Big Tex for next year’s fair.

“We’ll see Big Tex again,” Gooding said.

All that’s left is a wire frame and his arms.

Rebuilding, huh? I think he looks better this way…certainly less likely to devour your soul.

[Balance]

@bouv

Rebuilding, huh? I think he looks better this way…certainly less likely to devour your soul.

If it were up to me, I’d add a single red eye and some shiny metal skull plates, and call it done.

[The_Hamster_King]

I think they should start a tradition of setting him on fire every year at the end of the fair. Sort of like a redneck Burning Man.

[Balance]

@The_Hamster_King

I think they should start a tradition of setting him on fire every year at the end of the fair. Sort of like a redneck Burning Man.

They could call the event the “Texas State Fire”.

[LawMonkey]

The flaming afro effect in the “during” picture is pretty awesome, actually.

[Sicks_Ate]

That was NOT a clean burning fuel.

[Wheelz]

Am I a terrible person because I laughed at the photo of the two crying little girls in that gallery? I don’t know why.

[Rodgers01]

Aw man…that thing features in a great episode of “King of the Hill.” And I didn’t even know it was real. (Sorry - never been to Texas.)

[aceplace57]

I hope they rebuild it. Big Tex is a fond childhood memory. They have to rebuild him.

[sitchensis]

@LawMonkey

The flaming afro effect in the “during” picture is pretty awesome, actually.

I liked the little Satan goatee he had for a while.

[Der_Trihs]

@LawMonkey

The flaming afro effect in the “during” picture is pretty awesome, actually.

Yeah; my reaction to the pics was that they ought to just add flame generators to the framework and make it permanent.

[newme]

They must have powered Big Tex using butane - a BASTARD gas.

[Pine_Fresh_Scent]

@Wheelz

Am I a terrible person because I laughed at the photo of the two crying little girls in that gallery? I don’t know why.

Yes you are, but it’s good to know there’s at least two of us.

[pravnik]

I’m both saddened and surprised. I always though he would eventually succumb to coronary artery disease.

@Balance

They could call the event the “Texas State Fire”.

They already do, kinda.

[Maserschmidt]

@aceplace57

I hope they rebuild it. Big Tex is a fond childhood memory. They have to rebuild him.

Likewise. Though the first time I saw him, circa 1970 or so, I seem to recall he scared the shit out of me.

[Enkel]

@Wheelz

Am I a terrible person because I laughed at the photo of the two crying little girls in that gallery? I don’t know why.

I did too! My first thought caption: “Picture of two girls seeing Hank for the first time (before the fire)”

Then I saw the picture of the whole thing on fire from the front… OMG, that will probably cause them months of nightmares and YEARS of therapy!

Why would anyone want such an butt ugly statue? They’d be better off converting the scaffolding to a zombie theme. At least that would be current.

[aceplace57]

I wonder if they’ll soften his features when they rebuild him. By todays standards he was a bit stern looking. Hopefully he’ll still look like Big Tex after the rebuild.

@Maserschmidt

Likewise. Though the first time I saw him, circa 1970 or so, I seem to recall he scared the shit out of me.

[Ike_Witt]

@aceplace57

They have to rebuild him.

We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the worlds first bionic statue.

[cochrane]

“We got a rather tall cowboy, all of his clothes burned off.” - Dallas Fire-Rescue audio.

[handsomeharry]

Serves the bastard right.