State Fair of Texas icon Big Tex is destroyed by an electrical fire Oct. 19, 2012.

Take a good look at this photo, because it was taken just a few minutes before fire destroyed Big Tex, the State Fair of Texas’ iconic mascot, earlier this morning (Friday). An electrical fire started near his motorized mouth, and within minutes, he had burned from end to end like a cheap cigar, leaving nothing but his wire undergarments.

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Just the other day, he was celebrating his 60th birthday, too.

No word on his replacement or anything else yet, but we’ll let you know when there’s anything else to report.