Big Tex's 60th Birthday Bash - October 19, 2012
HOWDY FOLKS - Happy 60th Birthday to Big Tex!
Big Tex gets all purtied up for the 2012 Texas State Fair
Big Tex welcomes visitors to the State Fair
Big Tex stands tall with the American Flag
On Friday, October 19th, on the final weekend of the fair
Big Tex starts to feel hot around the collar
Smoke increases and things start to not look right
Suddenly, Big Tex's neck bursts into flames
Fire climbs up Big Tex' hair to his 75 gallon hat
Fire circles around the hat to surround Big Tex' face
As the hat engulfs, the shirts starts to burn
Big Tex's pants go up next
And then Big Tex's face goes up in flames
Now all of Big Tex is engulfed in flames
Pants are gone, shirt and face are going
Big Tex's face is now completely in flames
The boots ignite as the shirt & head disappear
With boots aflame, entire stack is shrowded in smoke
The firetrucks arrive to watch the hat smolder
Firefighters give Big Tex a cold drink, where's his mouth?
Firefighters cool off Big Tex's smoking skeleton
Firefighters look for clues why the fire started
The boots are gone, nothing left but ashes
Fair goers and workers view the decimated Big Tex
Firetrucks pack up; Next up, the cleanup crew
The firemen saved Big Tex's arms and hands
Big Tex's skeleton still stands tall w/the American Flag
Wanted: new boots, hat, and new head for Big Tex
Helicopter view of Big Tex post fire
The Big Tex Plaza looks a little bare now
Big Tex's skeleton is lifted & lowered down, 2 days early
Big Tex is slowly lowered down & lighter than usual
Workers remove the hands for inspection and reuse
Fire investigators take photos of the fire's start
The hands are removed and put on the trailer
The second hand is added to the trailer
Workers put a tarp over the fallen cowboy
Tarp continues to cover Big Tex's skeleton
Still pulling the tarp of Big Tex's boney shoulders
Finish pulling the tarp, leaving Big Tex's head exposed
Big Tex is pulled from the fairgrounds feet first
Big Tex leaves the fairgrounds
Big Tex is taken to the morgue for an autopsy
One more corner and Big Tex is on the final straightaway
Workers welcome Big Tex to the festive Dallas morgue
Rest in Peace, old friend