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The W.S. Gibbs Farm on 75 North in Huntsville was used as a construction site and offered in-kind by Sam Houston State University.
Big Sam consists of five layers of concrete laid over steel mesh attached to a welded steel framework. For more information on this process, please visit the Construction Photos page.
Standing proudly on a 10-foot Texas sunset granite base, the colossal statue of Sam Houston is visible from the south for 6.5 miles.
The FinancingThe dedication ceremony included such notables as Texas Governor Ann Richards, CBS Anchorman and SHSU Alum Dan Rather, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, State Representative Allen Hightower, State Senator Jim Turner, former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander (a Republican presidential candidate), and U.S. Republican Charles Wilson.
There were mayors, judges, council members, commissioners and other elected and appointed officials from throughout Walker County, and descendants of Sam Houston and Joshua Houston, David Adickes family and friends and Houston TV personality Ron Stone. And, of course, thousands of Huntsville citizens who contributed cash donations to the Stand with Sam campaign which helped to pay the costs of the base and to erect the statue.
Some of the media present included CNN, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Representatives from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Trinity River Authority and Sam Houston State University, and many local supporting businesses were also present.
Reverend Earnest Grover, pastor of the First Baptist Church on 10th Street, gave the invocation. Adickes daughter, Mary, christened the statue.