https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2012-10-19/big-tex-goes-up-in-flames/

Big Tex Goes Up in Flames

By Monica Riese, October 19, 2012, 11:26am, Newsdesk

Big Tex, the 50-foot man who greeted attendees at the State Fair of Texas for 60 years, caught on fire around 10am today.

Early reports suggest the cause may have been electrical, but whatever it was, the wire frame is now all that remains.

The State Fair runs about a month each fall and is a huge draw for folks attending the UT vs. OU Red River Rivalry each year at the Cotton Bowl. It's known for its wide variety of fried foods and, until now, its legendary greeter. This Sunday was scheduled to be the last day of this year's extravaganza.

Bill Bragg, the voice of Big Tex, told NBC DFW that the statue would be rebuilt for next year and that he would return as Tex's voice under that 75-gallon hat.

Read more about the State Fair here, or visit its official website.