"Howdy y'all!": Texas State Fair 52-foot-tall icon Big Tex goes down in flames

[wfgodot]

Run!!!!

Am now having unwelcome (original version) Wicker Man flashbacks.

Friendly Texas Icon Turns Into Terrifying Colossal Flame Monster As It Is Destroyed (Gawker)

The 52-foot "Big Tex" statue that has welcomed visitors to the State Fair of Texas with a booming, "Howdy y'all!" for the past 60 years was completely destroyed in a terrifying burst of flames today.

Fair President Sue Gooding told Dallas' KTRK News that the structure burned very quickly and was rendered unsalvageable within ten minutes. Early speculation suggests the damage was caused by an electrical fire.
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more, plus various links (including this Wiki Big Tex entry) at Gawker site above

 

[Nova]

I'm sorry it went up in flames. But I only know the statue from the remake of State Fair and I thought it was frightening before it was on fire.

 

[SDkid]

How sad!!

 

[CocoChanel]

i'm sorry it went up in flames. But i only know the statue from the remake of state fair and i thought it was frightening before it was on fire.

bbm
this!!!

 

[txsvicki]

I remember him from childhood and living there. What a shame.