We learned today of the passing of Mr. Robert “Bob” Boykin who was the voice of Big Tex at the State Fair of Texas for the last 7 years, under anonymity. He passed away at the age of 73. He was known for talking with fairgoers on the grounds during his breaks, so you may have spoken with the man himself. One of his favorite parts of voicing Big Tex was being able to watch the crowds and see the look on a child’s face the first time they saw the 55-foot cowboy in person.

Bob was born and raised in Texas. He joined the United States Marine Corps and eventually settled into a more than 40-year career at Lockheed Martin. He was a lifetime member of the Shriners and was a Freemason. Bob was buried in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, with honors, on January 29, 2020 and a celebration of life was held for him this past weekend in Kaufman, Texas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and co-workers at the State Fair of Texas.