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| Photo credit: LM Otero/AP Source |
Dallas, TX, USA (October 19, 2012) — Greg Janda of NBC 5 Dallas-Ft Worth reports on this morning’s fire which destroyed the Texas icon:
“Stunned attendees at the State Fair of Texas witnessed the iconic Big Tex go up in flames Friday morning.
“Some fabric that made up the towering structure’s hand and sleeves could still be seen as firefighters gathered around the scorched area.
“Big Tex’s 75-gallon hat, 50-pound belt buckle and slow drawl — “Howdy, folks!” — have been greeting fair visitors since 1952. This year’s fair, which closes Sunday, had been celebrating Big Tex’s 60th birthday.
‘It’s a great loss for us because of its icon stature,’ fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding said.
“Gooding said she didn’t know the cause of the fire but did note electrical controls move Big Tex’s mouth and head. Gooding noted that no one was injured in the fire and added that she expects him to be back for next year’s state fair.
“‘He’ll be back, bigger and better than ever,’ she said.”