A not for profit organization is being formed to restore and preserve a historic roadside icon in Canyon, Texas. The passion to save Tex Randall from neglect and destruction is a love story.

Most people who have lived in the Texas Panhandle or have passed though on US Hwy. 60 have been impressed by one of the tallest cowboys in Texas. Many of the people who have joined the Save Tex Randall! group on Facebook tell stories of childhood memories when they first saw the impressive work of art.

"Tex Randall" was constructed in-place during 1959 by industrial arts teacher Harry Wheeler out of concrete, steel and wire mesh. Its original purpose was to advertise Wheeler's Western Store. The statue was restored in 1989 after a truck crashed into Tex's left boot, but the aging landmark now hovers over a vacant building adjacent to US Highway 60 in Canyon, Texas.

The 51-year-old, 47-foot, 7-ton statue is one of 10 endangered roadside attractions singled out by the Society for Commercial Archeology March 5, 2010. During the 1960's, Tex wore custom clothing created and donated by Levi Strauss.

The landowner who owns the property where Tex Randall stands, plans to sell the land. The owner of the statue can't pay to move it. Therefore, the statue's future may be in jeopardy.

Now there are thousands of people who are not willing to let this roadside symbol of Texas pride and heritage be neglected or destroyed. Many are donating time, money and materials to restore and preserve him for generations to come. I am one of them.

A not for profit organization is being formed to purchase the property and sculpture. Present plans include removal of the adjacent dilapidated building and landscaping the asphalt covered lot transforming it into a beautiful picnic park. It will become the most attractive piece of of property in that area of the City of Canyon if the restoration project succeeds.

I plan to document the restoration progress by photographing each phase of the work as it is done, much as I did when the Paramount Theater sign was fully restored and returned to it's original home on Amarillo's historic Polk Street. My photo prints of Tex Randall have been among my best sellers and was featured in a recent art exhibition this past March in Stephenville, Texas. March is Texas History Month and the Cross Timbers Fine Art Council drew attention to appreciation of Texas heritage in their "Texas Our Texas" art and heritage exhibition.

An Amarillo Globe News columnist recently published his own update about the Save Tex Randall! project - Jon Mark Beilue: A new lease on life for Tex?

To help raise funding for the restoration project, I am donating proceeds of the sale of archival quality, limited edition and signed photo prints titled "Tex Randall Sunset".  The number of prints are limited to 1,000 and are available at a discount from my normal prices for archival quality 11" x 14" photo prints.

The prints are available for $15.00.

You can pick up prints in Amarillo and Canyon at the following locations.

Amarillo

Danny's Volks Stuff

SW 6th Ave. & Hayden St.

9am - 6pm Mon. - Fri and 9am - 3pm Sat.

Lewis Picture Framing

4021 South Washington Street (806) 372-6402

10am - 6pm Mon. - Fri. 10am - 5pm Sat.

Conservation matting and framing for your archival quality prints by Dusty Reins!

Canyon

Beary Unique Gifts

1511 4th Ave on the north side of the courthouse square.

10am - 6pm Tue. - Fri. 10am - 4pm Sat.

Prints may be ordered by mail.

Make checks in the amount of $20.00 ($5.00 shipping) payable to: CaptiveImage.us

Send to: Captiveimage.us 1024 SW 6th Ave. Amarillo, TX 79101

Be sure to include your return address and an Email address for confirmation when the print is shipped.

Online Orders!

Official Save Tex Randall Store

Thank you very much for your support in this Texas heritage restoration and preservation project.

I plan to add more details about the history of Tex Randall to this article after I have interviewed former owners of Tex.

Vintage Tex Randall

I have been on the hunt for vintage photographs of Tex Randall. If you have a photo you would like to share, please use the Contact form to let me know you have a photo to share. Please leave a telephone number for faster contact. Thanks!

Photo courtesy of Wanda Scott ca: 1964