Go to Google images, and Google "Big Tex". That thing was CREEPY. No great loss.

Heart burn or Acid Reflux did him in.

The bigger you are the harder that stuff hits.

"Ironically, Big Tex had only one more weekend to greet visitors at the fair -- it closes for this year on Oct. 21."

Isn't it ironic; don't you think?

Next year I won't have to drive from Texas to N.W. Nevada to attend "Burning Man"! They can just have it at the Texas State Fair.

I lived in Texas for nearly 10 years (2 of those years was in Plano -- a suburb of Dallas) -- and I never knew anything about "Big Tex". I don't think I ever went to the fairgrounds, so I'm sure that's why.

In any event, I'm not sure why this is national news. Texans might care about it, but nobody else will. They will rebuild it, and Texans will be happy (but nobody else will).

It amazes me what makes national news these days... I will admit I am a bit curious what STARTED THE FIRE, but I'm sure we will never know...

I am sure no one else cares. It would be like ANYTHING burning up in any other fair ground in the US. No one would care but locals. They still have the frame and they can rebuild him. The clothes are changed out every few years any way, so that is not a huge loss. The say it was electrical; lots of power going to him for voice, lights, and hand motion. He is going to be back for next season, so the only people who will miss seeing his 60th birthday are the ones who waited until the last week of the fair.

It's because EVERYTHING is (inter)national news since the internet. Do you think Walter Cronkite would have reported this? Nahh. But news agencies nowadays (and forevermore) don't just have 30 minutes, or a finite number of paper pages, to fill. They have to perpetually keep readers'/viewers' attention, or try to. It's the same reason if some city councilman in Bum@!$%#, Missouri says something stupid and un-scientific, it becomes a big 'gaffe' and a 'coup' for the opposite major party, when no one should really even give a @!$%#.

I didn't know 'Burning Man' had moved to Texas?

It looked more like the Michael Jackson PEPSI commercial to me.

Didn't here the real news is in the enterainment section, Christina Aguilera does't wear panties!!!! You know if it weren't for the election drama that the media makes up there would be no news for them to talk about.

I love the internet because you have every bit of information in the world at your fingertips, but thats also why I hate the internet, now that piece of info about Christina will be stuck in my head all day, and the funny thing is, I don't even know who the hell she is, I haven't watched TV in more years than she has probably been alive.

Big Tex's "life partner" had caught him sneaking over to Chick-Fil-A......he just couldn't resist that spicy chicken.

He died for our sins!!!!

That's sad that Big Tex burned down, given his age and cultural status.

That being said, he looks like something that was designed to scare the crap out of unruly children under the age of 8 or so, which I'm sure he did over the years. Something about the top photo evokes images of the Colossus of Rhodes (Helios... sun god... burning around the face, ya know?).

When they rebuild him, don't make him so creepy looking.....made my skin crawl!

I'm sure this has something to do with Republican budget cuts down there...

(just joking...?)

I wonder if obamacare could have saved him, or if he was just too old that they decided that his life productivity had past and decided to let him go.

what a waste of a burning man...need's a hula cam...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea3RAkGqYC8

Other people "do not have to mess with Texas" - They do themselves in!

First thought when I seen the pics:

OH, THE HUMANITY!!!

Then: LOL!

I suspect members of the Oklahoma football team were involved.

Where to start with the sarcasm? Stimulus money to rebuild it, check its papers to see if it is here legally, why did its mother just leave it at the fair ground 60 years ago and never report it missing, what birth defect caused it to grow so big....

.

Fox News just said Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility, but I doubt it myself.

Say.....shouldn't the Flag in the 'post-mortem' photo have been at 'half-mast'?

Quick....Get Big Tex to the Burn Trama Unit!

Big Tex's flagpole was usually at "half-mast" for decades now...I mean cut the 60 year-old a BREAK, will ya?

He was fired up about the election. A littlte hot under the collar about illegal immigration. Burning mad about the deficit. Carried a flame for his high school sweethart all these years. Spontaneous non-human combustion. Just a hunka hunka burning love.

Wow! Big Tex caught fire! Sad to see the ol'guy go up in smoke. At least he died like a cowboy should, with his boots on, grinning and waving to the end. RIP Big Tex. Ignore the snotty comments from the dam Yankees and city slickers, they never had a Big Tex, in fact, they never had much to brag about anyhow, so them being all disrespectful at your passing, well, just consider the source.

"Big Tex, mascot. An icon barely alive."

" 'Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology...' "

For those that think the story isn't a big deal to anyone but people in Texas, the Texas State Fair hosts one of the biggest rivalry games in all of college football, the Red River Shootout OU vs Texas. So anyone that watches college football would know who big Tex is simply because he is shown on national tv, every year, before, and during the game (and sometimes during highlights).

I suppose it was a stroke of humor on someones part, but no I doubt it was the OU football team they've been having a good run in Dallas since Mack Brown showed up. Don't want to ruin a good thing. Texas has been known as the big easy the past couple of years lol.

BOOMER!

A good lesson for us all, here on Newsvine, ... about the risks of flaming!

Cheers!

;-)

I named my horse "Big Tex" after this big fellow, and I noticed a tear or two when old boy heard the news...so to cheer him up, took him down to the ok corral for a few whiskey shots and a couple of moonshines...you see, a horse cant be down on himself all the time, he got too many things to worry about, like inflation, taxes, horseshoe price fixin e, Obama etc

clarkly joe bob -praise jesus - why did you guys pray to put the fie out - isnt that what your famous for go ahead elect mit thats what your whole state will be in about 20 years - burned to rubble- the rest a desert

Does this mean the greedy white people will finally give that land back to it's rightful owners and LEAVE?! Please?! If only.

To those of you whining and complaining about this article:

Some people do consider this news and were interested in this story. Instead of moaning and groaning about the article, if you don't find the story interesting or worth reading, simply ignore it...nobody forced you to read it.

And for those of you posting ASININE comments about TEXAS:

I'm sure they don't give a rat's ass what you think, don't want you to come to their state, probably feel the same way about where you live, and think you are as RUDE AS HELL (and can go there too)!

NC if you bother to study history, you'll find that greed is exhibited by ALL races. Might want to get a paper towel and wipe, the pseudo-liberal ignorance, bigotry, hatred, intolerance and hypocrisy is running out your nose.

I've heard boltonbill doesn't even have a tallywhacker. That's why he's so jealous of Big Tex's.

boltonbill I guess you have traveled this great country measuring guys "tallywhackers"..................not my interest but as they say knock yourself out what you do on your free time is your business.

I remember Big Tex from when I was a kid living in Irving and we went to the state fair. I am glad to hear they will rebuild him.

maybe bill has to bolt his on....

I think he self destructed after watching OU treat Texas like a baby treats a diaper. That was a beating usually reserved for conservative Texan step-children.

but hey, at least we can spell :) (GOES, not GOSE)

Was he wearing sunscreen?

Maybe it was Banana Boat suncscreen!!

big text is warehoused, till the start of the fair, then taken down, and stored,, could not catch fire before or after the fire

That's stone cold logic, not irony. He couldn't catch fire, before or after the fire. Unless he was prefired or refired, but again, logically, I don't think those things can happen.

I guess you're one of those people that says, I'll get there when I get there, not before and not later! And I fully support your right to do so.

Yeah, it's Inigo Montoya meets Alanis Morissette. People seldom use that word to mean what the dictionary says it means, but given enough time the dictionary will change to match the people, not vice versa. People think "ironic" means "amusing coincidence."

In ohio they just replace a huge Jesus statue that was hit by lightning. Some people will see the irony in both of these events

I guess he shouldn't have bogarted that joint ---- seems to have gotten the better of him...

My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!!

I think it was delayed suicide after the way the Longhorns played last weekend against Oklahoma. He just could not handle how really bad it was. RIP Big Tex.

Hook Em Horns. That is Oklahoma Sooners style. That is with your fingers pointing to the ground.

Yeah but aren't ya' glad you're not here in San Diego this week??????

From 24-0 all the way to 24-35, talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Would you believe the Charger organization put out a statement yesterday afternoon which included telling the fans "TO TAKE A CHILL PILL!!!"????? The fans have been rightfully ripping them a new one all week.

Chargers have been using the threat of taking the team to Los Angeles to get us to build them a new stadium.

I hope they enjoy whatever stadium L.A. builds for them after that remark

Will the new Tex be a Mex? ha ha

Podnuh, lots of Texans are Mexican, including cowboys. Lots of senhoritas married cowboys and vice versa, do you like being all ignorant?

Funniest thing I've read today! Bet you wish you could include a backhand when posting.

It makes me sad, too, to see such an icon of my childhood gone.
When I was a kid, my father worked as Vice President of Sales at Peter Wolf Associates which was located on the grounds of the Fair.
We got to go in Free. :)

I hope they rebuild Big Tex. Until then, God Speed to him.

Sorry for your loss Texans but frankly the Thing was creepy.

Resident of Dallas, Texas for 30 years. I don't go to the State Fair every year (not this year, wife and I decided to attend Texas Renaissance Festival this year instead), but it's really too bad that this happened. I am with the article, it was probably an electrical problem. Hopefully next year he can be rebuilt, preferably with more fire resistant Dickie's clothing, revised wiring, and maybe a better circuit breaker design.

I know people think it's hokey, but it is a symbol of Dallas and of Texas.

Hokey? Big Tex? Not at all, what is hokey is folks who have nothing in their lives except being ugly on the inside.

PRISCILLA - Thank you. I was born and raised in Dallas and he meant something to me, too. What's worse is I haven't been to the fair yet, going tomorrow.

For those who do not know what the PHD in your screen-name means, let me explain; Bi Polar Wookie is not just full of it, but has it Piled Higher & Deeper (PHD).

They were going to replace him with Michelle Obama, but they couldn't make her butt large enough.

Palza- We could just confiscate the empty space in your head. Should make up the difference....

Wow you really need to take off the tin foil hat!

voxrationis

you need to get a life!

Texas......it's like a whole other country......a racist, bigoted, homophobic, un-American country.

I agree! Texas! Home of the snake oil men! And sheep and daughter screwin rednecks

voxrationis

This is the Buckle of the bible belt here in Texas, what do you care?

If I wasn't a native of the GREAT Lone Star State I'd be Jealous too.

Hey voxrationis, I live in that city that built the $60 million stadium, and it is awesome! Going there tonight as a matter of fact. It was the CITY that wanted the stadium and everything else that came with passing of the $100+ bond package. The bond money also funded a Career and Technology Education Center, as well as new laboratories for the medical education department. Their academics are second to none - a Blue Ribbon winning school, excellent statistics in whatever category you would choose to measure, many various extracurricular organizations, one of the best broadcast/journalism program in the nation, and they even have a small college campus inside the high school for students who are looking to get ahead (along with a very large AP and International Baccalaureate curriculum). And yes, they also happen to be excellent in athletics. And just cause: the bond money could not have been put toward teacher salaries or directly into school funds. That's not how bonds work, in case you didn't know. Maybe if you and your city, state, actually cared about your kids like the City of Allen does, you could have these things also. So next time you feel like opening your hateful mouth, try doing a little research next time. I like how you can spew your hatred and not say where you are from, probably cause it's a worse place to live than Texas.

Unlike you though, I guess the people of Texas have a better regard for human life and their opinions, cause even as hateful as you are, I actually don't wish harm to you or your state and don't want it to 'burn, baby, burn' like you do. I mean do you really want children and people that are just trying to support their families, and have nothing to do with whatever hate you have in your life, to 'Burn, Baby, Burn'? And you and people like you, *bluedevil*, *IFYOUARENOT...* think we're the racist, bigots, homophobic, hateful un-Americans.

About the banners. Did you lose any money, or get physically harmed in the making of those banners? We have laws in this country that say you can not be here illegally, but we have millions of illegals here, costing tax payers MILLIONS, if not BILLIONS of dollars a year, stealing from/robbing/murdering/rapeing American citizens every day, and wanting FREE stuff without contributing a dang thing. So if it is illegal it is illegal and the US GOVERNMENT, and this liberal administration, allows them to stay here without penalty. But you have a problem with a few words on a little banner in a little town in Texas. So, do you have a problem with the illegals in this country too, or just religious Legal American citizens who just put some words on a banner; not physically hurting anyone, or costing them a dime? But unlike you and the others I mentioned, I know not all illegals are here causeing problems and are actually trying to learn our laws and way of life.

Just love those people that always hate Tx when any article comes out, but ask any Texan what they think of Tx...otherwise we don;t give a rats ass what anyone thinks about out state. So many moving hear for jobs guess it has always been that way...stay in your home state if you hate Tx so much.

The Tx state fair is a proud tradition and so was Big Tex.

Jen

Texas does not rely no tax payers money for everything, like Rhode Island presumably does.

The fair makes good money. The funds will come from there. If not it will come from people gladly making donations to rebuild him.

Perhaps property coverage in insurance? I'm from Dallas and would gladly donate if needed to help :)

The fair makes good money because everything is outrageously priced. However, this is part of the Texas State Fair for the last 60 years. As a Texas Transplant, I'll gladly donate to restore something the people of this state are proud of.

to jen in Rhode island,

Your words “I can't believe they're gonna waste tax payer money to rebuild that foolish thing"

Couple things here…

1) you said lived in Texas.... when ? How old were you? did you pay state tax when you livedin Texas?

You should know they won’t use Tax money for this….and as for foolish…. you live in Rhode Island that state too small to really be a state.

When Connecticut and Massachusetts finished drawing their state lines, they realized there was a piece left and neither wanted and that’s the rest of the story…..

As for your opinion… it’s obvious you make bad decisions any way…. Rhode Island …. Really?

I would respectfully ask you keep your opinion about what goes on in Texas to yourself, , when your mind once again becomes clear and you become a resident of Texas once again... then you can have an opinion about Texas

I know you really believe that, but <whisper>it isn't really alive, so, like you, it isn't really self-aware, and it can't "decide" anything</whisper>

Fred, it won't be BIGGER. I know some yahoo said that. But they are going to use the existing frame. It is still intact.

LOL....and we here in Texas still ride horses to work, and everyone has oil wells in their back yards!!!

?

Darkdragon you are an idiot!

we have too much tolerance in Texas ! And as for being racist, Hell my blond hair blue eyed daughter is the Minority.

elnford, you have some little parts too. For example, your brain is about the size of a grain of sand.