Popular Culture in Texas

Since the 1920s, college football has been popular in Texas. In 1938, Davey O�Brien of TCU won the Heisman trophy, symbolic of the nation's best college football player. Other Heisman Trophy winners from Texas include Doak Walker of Southern Methodist University, 1948, John David Crow of Texas A&M, 1957, Earl Campbell of the University of Texas, 1977, Andre Ware of the University of Houston, 1989 and Ricky Williams of the University of Texas, 1998. During the 1960s and 1970s, the University of Texas, under the guidance of Coach Darrel Royal, won eleven conference titles, captured two national championships and went to sixteen bowl games. The Southwest Conference was one of the most popular regions for college football, but amid spiraling expenses in the early 1990s, the Conference disbanded. Texas teams moved either into the Western Athletic Conference or the Big 12 Conference. 

Professional athletics have grown in popularity in Texas in the latter part of the 1900s. In the 1960s, professional football came to Texas. From 1965-1979, Coach Tom Landry led the Dallas Cowboys to five Super Bowls, and the Cowboys brought home two championships in their five attempts. Professional baseball, basketball and hockey have also made their mark in Texas. In 1962, the Astros were established in Houston, and the Texas Rangers moved to Dallas-Ft. Worth in 1972. In 1967, professional basketball was introduced with the Dallas Chaparrals, who later became the San Antonio Spurs. The Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks were established in the 1970s. In recent years, hockey has gained a large following, and the Dallas Stars were champions of the National Hockey League in 1999. 

Other sports have also remained popular. Golfers Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Lee Trevino were Texans, as was female golfer Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias. Rodeos also attract much interest in Texas, especially in cities like Houston and Ft. Worth. Car racing has also grown in popularity, and the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth hosts a number of big events during the year. One of the major changes in sports during the late twentieth century was the growing popularity and number of women�s sports programs.

Their have been many famous musicians in the history of Texas. One of the leading composers and musicians during the early 1900s was Texas born Scott Joplin. After World War II, Rock �n Roll became popular throughout the nation, including Texas. Some famous Rock �n Roll artists have hailed from Texas. They include Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Janis Joplin. Rhythm and Blues maintained its appeal in the state as well. In the 1950s and 1960s, Texas had a number of Rhythm and Blues clubs in its cities. Jazz has been another form of popular music in Texas. Urban areas became the state�s Jazz centers. The University of North Texas was one of the first universities in the Lone Star State to offer a major in Jazz. Its most famous Jazz ensemble is the One O�Clock Lab Band, which  has acquired international acclaim.

One of the most popular forms of music in Texas is Country and Western. Texas honky-tonk increased in popularity during the 1930s. Austin became the starting place for many country singers such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker. Country singers Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter and George Jones are also Texans. Mexican-Americans in Texas also contributed to popular music. During the 1960s, groups such as Sunny and the Sunglows and Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs had national hits. Country-western singer Johnny Rodriguez became famous during the 1970s. Tejano music remains an important part of Texan culture and continues to grow in popularity today.

Although only a few movies have been set in Texas during the modern era, two classic movies helped popularize the state and perpetuate its legends. Giant and The Alamo both helped romanticize the state and its history. In later years, Lonesome Dove, although only partially set in Texas, offered images of the cattle drives and the harsh frontier days. 

There are many famous actors and actresses who are native Texans. These include Ginger Rogers, Audie Murphy, Gene Autry and Debbie Reynolds. A number of journalists  and television personalities also hail from Texas. Some of these are Molly Ivins, Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and Larry King. Apollo VII Astronaut Walter Cunningham has become a well-known speaker and talk show host in Texas.

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