The World's Largest Texas Flag is a Texas flag

Flag of Texas

The Flag of the State of Texas is defined by law as follows:The Texas flag is known as the "Lone Star Flag" . This flag was introduced to the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 28, 1838, by Senator William H. Wharton...

 used by the Alpha Rho chapter of Alpha Phi Omega

Alpha Phi Omega

Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members...

 (ΑΦΩ or APO), a national co-ed service fraternity, at the University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

 in displays at football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 pre-game shows, at pep rallies, or for other purposes.

Field flag

The largest flag is used for pre-game "flag runs" at all home football games, at the annual Red River Shootout game, and at bowl games as allowed by bowl management. The newest incarnation of the Field Flag was purchased in July 2007. It measures 100 feet in width and 150 feet in length and was made by the Dixie Flag Manufacturing Company of San Antonio, TX.

The former flag (still used for some occasions) measures 75 feet in width and 125 feet in length (23 by 38 metres), and is the first of the flags to have the 3:5 ratio. This flag was purchased in 1991.

Drop flag

A smaller flag without handles is used for pep rallies, Texas Independence Day and other special events that take place in front of the university's Main Building

Main Building of The University of Texas at Austin

The Main Building is a structure at the center of the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, United States...

. Its measurements are 80' in width and 120' in length and was purchased in 2007. The flag is lowered from the President's Balcony.

The previous drop flag was purchased in the mid-1970s, measured 66' wide by 120' long, and was originally used as a field flag.

Parade flag

A much smaller flag with handles to be used for the Texas-OU Torchlight Parade, other parades in Austin

Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

as requested, and for flag runs before some home basketball games. This flag was purchased in 1998, and it is 91 ft long and 51 ft wide.

History

The original flag was given to Texas governor Price Daniel by Mississippi governor Ross Barnett during the halftime show of the 1962 Cotton Bowl (after which Texas beat Ole Miss 12-7). The flag was meant as a gesture of southern hospitality from the citizens of Mississippi to the citizens of Texas. Governor Daniel later gave the flag to the Longhorn Band. The band later, however, returned the flag to the university where it eventually made its way to the men's athletic department. The next football season, APO was asked to run the flag and the first APO flag run was at the Thanksgiving Day game in 1962 against Texas A&M. The original Texas flag measured 17 yards by 30 yards (51 feet by 90 feet). The second Texas flag was made and came into APO's possession around 1966. Unfortunately not much is known about this flag because the records have not survived. It is assumed to be roughly the same size as the first flag.

External links

• Alpha Rho Chapter - Alpha Phi Omega