Photos and video: Big Tex gets a lift for the 60th time

by Charles Scott/The Dallas Morning News

Workers erected the icon in time for the State Fair's opening on September 28.

Nathan Hunsinger/The Dallas Morning News

Big Tex turns 60 this year, and a few people gather to watch Big Tex as he is erected Monday, September 24, 2012 at Fair Park in Dallas.

DALLAS — Big Tex is officially over the hill — way over it.

Nearly 100 people came out for the annual Big Tex installation at Fair Park on September 24, marking the 60th anniversary of the State Fair of Texas’ beloved icon.

The installation “signals to all of us that the Texas state fair is just around the corner,” fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding told the crowd as the 52-foot cowboy and his 75-gallon cowboy were hoisted up at the fairgrounds.

“Being able to celebrate the 60th anniversary here has been in the works for a couple of years now,” she said.

About a dozen Girl Scouts joined Gooding at the microphone during the speech as they celebrated their organization’s 100th anniversary by gearing Big Tex up with a Girl Scout pin and a box of their famous cookies.

Girl Scout’s spokeswoman Ginger Greenberg announced The Big Tex exhibit will be accompanied by a commemorative Girl Scouts exhibit that is free to attend with any purchase of a State Fair of Texas admission ticket.

Gooding said both exhibits can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the fair’s 24-day run, which begins on Friday, September 28.

Big Tex “is a world-class exhibit,” she said, “a great exhibit.”