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Big Tex has presided over every State Fair of Texas since 1952.

Big Tex is the 52 foot tall icon of the annual State Fair of Texas held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. He wears size 70 boots, a 75 gallon hat, a size 100 180/181 shirt and 284W/185L XXXXXL pair of Dickies jeans. The pants alone require 72 yards of denim and weigh in at 65 pounds.

Big Tex's beginnings were in 1949 as a 49 foot (15 m) tall Santa Claus constructed from iron drill casing and papier mache in Kerens, Texas to help encourage holiday sales in the town. In 1951, State Fair president R. L. Thornton purchased Santa's components for $750 and had Dallas artist Jack Bridges transform them into a cowboy, and Big Tex was born. Big Tex currently has fiberglass "skin."

Big Tex made his debut at the 1952 fair. He was altered the following year to straighten his nose, correct a lascivious wink and allow him to talk. Former disc jockey Al Jones was the first voice of Big Tex, but would fill the role for only one season. His most familiar voice is that of radio announcer Jim Lowe, who boomed Big Tex's signature "Howdy, folks!" for a total of 39 years.

In 1958, Big Tex underwent further re-design, bringing him closer to the look of today. The next year, a mechanism was installed that allowed his mouth to move in sync with the announcer's voice. In 1997, Big Tex was given a skeletal makeover including a new hand that waved to passersby. Three years later, his head was animated, allowing it to turn.

Big Tex, 1956

Few men have played the part of the voice of Big Tex since its inception; one of the previous being Harry Cooper. Cooper was selected as a replacement after his predecessor, Sonny Ray Stolz, winner of the original statewide competition for the voice of Big Tex, held live during the 2002 Cotton Bowl, decided not to continue after the 2002 season. Cooper, a BBA student from Lancaster University on a student exchange program with Texas A&M University, made his debut during the 2003 Edition of the Fair as "Big Tex", celebrating the icon's 50th birthday. It has been noted by media sources, fair officials, and family members of the late Jim Lowe, famous for holding the title of being the longest-running voice in Big Tex history, that Stolz's voice most resembled that of Lowe's. The current voice of Big Tex is Bill Bragg, a former broadcast engineer for EDS. He has been in this role since 2002.

All of Big Tex's announcements are performed "live" and his booming voice echoes over much of the 277-acre (1.12 km²) Dallas Fair Park for nine hours each day; during the entire 24 day annual event.

Big Tex in the media[link]

In an episode of the FOX-TV animated series of King Of The Hill, Big Tex is the focus of the 8th Season episode titled "Girl, You'll Be a Giant Soon," which first aired April 25, 2004, Hank Hill is upset that the State Fair of Texas will not allow propane Bar-B-Que grills to be used. Luanne Platter, Hill's niece, decides to protest this by climbing inside Big Tex and staging a sit-in protest.

Resources[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Texas State Fair

	Dallas-Fort Worth portal
	Texas portal

• "Big Tex's History". Official Web Site of the State Fair of Texas.
• "State Fair blog". Our Fair Lady
• "Big Tex". Texas Twisted. Retrieved Apr. 11, 2005.

Coordinates: 32°46′47″N 96°45′44″W / 32.77972°N 96.76222°W / 32.77972; -96.76222

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Russell Dale Martin (born October 4, 1960) is an American radio shock jock in Dallas, Texas. He has worked in the Dallas radio market for over 26 years. Martin hosted the #1 rated The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas, until December 8, 2008 when KLLI switched to an all-sports format. On July 12, 2010, Martin returned to radio with his new morning show on 97.1 The Eagle (KEGL). After a brief hiatus where the station claimed Russ was sick with the flu it was announced the show would be moving to afternoons.

Biography[link]

Martin grew up in Pleasant Grove, a large, working-class neighborhood in southeast Dallas, where he graduated from W.W. Samuell High School. Martin's radio career began in the 1980s at KGVL 1400 AM in Greenville, Texas, working 6 p.m. to midnight running the board for religious programs.^[1]

In 1982 Martin was hired by KTLR 107.1 FM in Terrell, Texas, to play country music on weekends. A year later in 1983 he was hired by KAAM 1310 AM in Dallas as a part-time weekend disc jockey. In 1986 Martin was hired for another part-time position by the Satellite Music Network for an oldies format, and later worked part-time for Z-Rock while still working at KAAM and KAFM.^[1]

In 1987 Martin was hired by top 40 station KEGL, "The Eagle", in Dallas. He also hosted a talk show on Sunday nights at KEGL. He hosted the television shows Hot TV and Hot Tickets which ran from 1988 to 1994 on the then local FOX affiliate KDAF.^[2]

Charity work[link]

Known for his local charity work, Martin founded The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation in 2002 which benefits the families of police officers and firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty. The Foundation also coordinates an annual parade called the Heroes Day Parade. In 2006 he formed "The Russ Martin Show Experience", a band made up of RMS cast members, regular guests and local musicians. The band performs rock cover songs at live venues and at an annual "White Trash Party" to raise money for charity.^[3] The shows benefit The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation.^[4]

Russ also serves on the advisory board at Operation Kindness, a no-kill animal shelter in Carrollton, Texas.^[5]

Interests[link]

Russ Martin's interests include 1960s television show character Batman as portrayed by Adam West, as well as his near-obsession with James Garner and the character Jim Rockford. Martin also owns a collection of classic TV show cars such as a Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee replica,^[6] two 1966 Batmobile replicas, a replica of the Mach Five from the cartoon, Speed Racer, and most recently the 1976 Ford Grand Torino from Starsky and Hutch.^[1]

[edit] The Russ Martin Show

The first incarnation of The Russ Martin Show began following the departure of The Howard Stern Show from KEGL. In 1997 he was asked to fill morning drive time slot. Within two years, Martin's ratings had surpassed those of Dallas veteran radio personality Ron Chapman's ratings.^[7]

In 2000, Martin left KEGL following a contract dispute. The Russ Martin Show reappeared on KYNG, a station that had previously been country-western music. Martin began his first show at KYNG on April 6, 2000, once again filling the morning drive time slot. When Howard Stern was picked up by KYNG, The Russ Martin Show moved from its morning drive slot to 3-7pm. In 2003 KYNG changed its call letters to KLLI and took on the Live 105.3 branding.

The Russ Martin Show had consistently high ratings for KLLI since his show debuted on 105.3.^[8] In 2005 D Magazine named Martin best radio talk show host in the DFW area.^[9]

In December 2008, Live 105.3 changed its format to include more live sports programming, and Martin was eliminated during the switch.^[10]

On July 1, 2010 97.1FM KEGL ran a promo announcing the return of The Russ Martin show. The show began airing on July 12, 2010 in the 6am-10am time slot.^[11]

On September 14, 2011 97.1FM KEGL stopped airing the show. The reason or state of the show is unknown as of yet. Rumors that 97.1 KEGL will flip to a Country format have arisen due in part to the web address: www.971thebull.com directing users to www.kegl.com As of September 19th 2011 www.kegl.com still contained both advertising and marketing material referencing Russ Martin.

On September 22, 2011 Chris Ryan (on air talent for 97.1 KEGL FM) announced the Russ Martin Show would be moving to the 3pm - 7pm time slot beginning Monday September 26, 2011. This marks the first time since 2008 that the Russ Martin Show will air in Dallas during afternoon drive time.

Arrest[link]

Martin was arrested on July 18, 2008 following an incident on July 14 where he allegedly assaulted his fiancee in his Southlake home.^[12] Martin was jailed for a short time before posting a $10,000 bail and being released. On July 10, 2009, Russ Martin pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor assault in a Fort Worth criminal court and received two years deferred adjudication.^[13]

See also[link]

• List of radio stations in Texas
• KRLD-FM

References[link]

External links[link]

• Russ Martin Show FAQ and Audio Archives
• Russ Martin's Auto Repair
• Operation Kindness
• Harder Beat Magazine article
• The Heroes Parade
• Reward Increased In Animal Cruelty Case from Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA
• RussMartin.com
• Best Radio Yakety-Yakker article from D Magazine