Big Tex on fire at the State Fair of Texas

Big Tex’s biggest fans fondly recall moments with the towering State Fair icon. Smoke rises from Big Tex at the State Fair of Texas, in Fair Park, Friday morning, Oct. 19, 2012 in Dallas, TX 

A Big Texas bobble head is pictured with flowery remembrances at the site of the Big Tex fire at the State Fair of Texas on Friday, October 19, 2012. 

Big Tex, the metal cowboy whose slow drawl of "Howdy, folks!" made him an icon of the State Fair of Texas for 60 years, was destroyed Friday when flames engulfed his 52-foot-tall frame.

Smoke rises from Big Tex at the State Fair of Texas, in Fair Park, Friday morning, Oct. 19, 2012 in Dallas, TX.

Big Tex’s biggest fans fondly recall moments with the towering State Fair icon.

Big Tex has ‘bigger and better’ days ahead, say Dallas, State Fair officials.

Some fun facts about Big Tex .

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Big Tex is a symbol of everything the state fair stands for, fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding said. 

Big Tex is where my parents told me, 'If you get lost, meet at Big Tex.

The cowboy always was easy to spot, with his 75-gallon hat and 50-pound belt buckle."It was a quick end, said Bragg, who is a radio engineer outside the three weeks a year that he works at the fair.

Several Big Tex backers say he will return next year, including Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who tweeted that the icon would be rebuilt "bigger and better for the 21st Century.

My job is safe and secure, said Bragg, who has been the man behind Big Tex for 11 years. "They're telling me, 'Take the rest of the day off and we'll see you next year.

Video: Cell-phone camera captures Big Tex burning from the beginning.

State Fair of Texas icon Big Tex goes up in flames.

Guestbook: Leave condolences; share your Big Tex memories.

Big Tex on fire at the State Fair of Texas, in Fair Park, Friday morning, Oct. 19, 2012 in Dallas, TX.

Electrical fire destroys Big Tex, State Fair’s folksy icon since 1952

Big Tex, the beloved 52-foot-tall cowboy who’s watched over the State Fair of Texas for decades, caught on fire Friday morning and was quickly burnt to a crisp.

He was 60.

Big Tex is toast. The tallest talking Texan will no longer say “Hoooowwwdeee, fooolllllks!” at this year’s fair, which ends Sunday. But State Fair officials say the icon will be rebuilt in time for next year.

Some material that made up Big Tex's hands and sleeves could still be seen as firefighters gathered around the scorched area. This year's fair, which closes Sunday and had been celebrating the towering structure's birthday, went on despite the fire -- just as Big Tex would want it.

Hundreds gathered in Big Tex Circle to watch the big guy go up in flames. Many stood in tears. Others snapped pictures with their smartphones, spreading the news online as quickly as the fire spread up Big Tex. They reminisced about the good-lookin’ folksy fair mascot who first arrived at Fair Park in 1952.

No one was injured.

State Fair officials say the fire was caused by an electrical short that started in his right boot. Flames and smoke shot up his body, which acted as a chimney, said Sue Gooding, a State Fair spokeswoman.

Big Tex is a symbol of everything the state fair stands for, fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding said. "Big Tex is where my parents told me, 'If you get lost, meet at Big Tex.

The cowboy always was easy to spot, with his 75-gallon hat and 50-pound belt buckle.