(Kerens, Texas) – Fair season is underway across Texas right now. The Gregg County Fair and East Texas State Fair have already wrapped up but there is plenty of fair fun still be had. All it takes is a road trip west on Interstate 20 into Dallas.
The State Fair of Texas is running through Sunday, October 19, at Fair Park in Dallas. There will be lots of great fair food, lots of rides to check out and a huge Texas greeting from Big Tex. But did you know Big Tex got his start in East Texas in 1949?
The History of Big Tex
In 1949, Kerens Chamber of Commerce manager Howell Brister proposed to the city council to build a giant Santa to bring tourists to the city. His plan was to build a 50-foot tall Santa that could be seen from Highway 31. Brister had already investigated the cost of building the giant Santa. He then presented his plan to the council where they voted and approved the construction.
Howell Brister had measured two men to get the dimensions that were needed to build the Santa then multiplied those by seven. Brister purchased the tubing for Santa’s skeleton, Kerens welding students put together the frame, agriculture students used chicken wire for the body and women from the Kerens dress factory made the clothes.
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Building the Giant Santa
It took about two weeks for the Santa to be finished. Some workers gathered at midnight to assemble him so people would be surprised the following morning. Santa could be seen from Highway 31 but was also about a block away from the train track that ran through town. The train conductor would slow down to let passengers get a look at the Santa. Below is the modern day location of where the Santa stood:
While the Santa was super popular among Kerens residents and visitors, the Santa quickly diminished in popularity after only two years in place. That’s when Brister said the Santa needed to be sold. He went to a West Texas town who were interested in the Santa to do the same purpose for their town, increase tourism. On his way back to Kerens, Brister stopped by the State Fair office in Dallas to make a pitch. Apparently, they liked the idea and mailed a $750 check to the Kerens chamber for the Santa.
“Howdy y’all. – Big Tex”
Kerens Santa Turned into Big Tex
After a year of work to turn Santa into a cowboy, including adding the ability to talk, Big Tex debuted at the State Fair of Texas in 1952. Big Tex has seen numerous updates throughout his time as fair greeter. Kerens still proudly touts their city as the birthplace of Big Tex. Just go to the ci.kerens.tx.us and you’ll see…