Standing nearly 10 feet tall and weighing over 3,200 pounds, the statue of Will Rogers and his beloved horse, Soapsuds, is a prominent landmark just west of the University Avenue and Broadway entrance at Texas Tech.
The statue is the centerpiece of a long-standing tradition where the Saddle Tramps wrap it in red crepe paper before home games. It’s also one of the most photographed spots on campus.
Despite its significance, many wonder why the statue is there, given that Rogers neither attended Texas Tech nor grew up in West Texas.
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Why is there a Will Rogers statue in Lubbock?
According to the university and Lubbock Avalanche-Journal archives , the statue was a gift from Rogers’ close friend Amon G. Carter, one of Texas Tech’s founders and the first chairman of its board.
Carter, also a Fort Worth philanthropist and founder of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, believed the statue would fit the West Texas landscape, honoring Rogers’ legacy as a cowboy icon.