The Texas Cowboys sure know how to treat a lady! They welcomed me as their Honorary Sweetheart with custom-made chaps featuring my initials tooled into the leather and a one-of-a-kind Texas Hatters cowboy hat adorned with the Cowboys’ trademark brands and emblems on the band. My hat and chaps match the Cowboys’ own gear exactly.
I was also honored with the opportunity of firing the Cowboys’ legendary cannon at a UT football game. If you’re unfamiliar with the history of “Smokey the Cannon,” the original was created in 1953 in response to the shotgun blasts often heard at the Red River Rivalry. It was later modified and renamed Smokey II, but thanks to the antics of some A&M students, it now rests at the bottom of Town Lake (aka. Lady Bird Lake). The current version, Smokey III, is a famous replica of a Civil War artillery cannon. Weighing over 1,200 pounds, it was crafted from the trunk of an oak tree. Smokey fires 10-gauge blank shotgun shells after every Texas Longhorns score, at kick-off and at the end of every quarter—packing a powerful punch!
My whirlwind inauguration experience is a cherished memory, and we captured it all in this video. A Texas-sized thank you to the Texas Cowboys for honoring me and giving this cowgirl the thrill of a lifetime.
— Gay Gaddis
Founder. Author. Artist. Trailblazer.
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