TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Riding into the Sunset
1947
ELECTRA WAGGONER BIGGS (AMERICAN)
Bronze
Memorial Circle
One of the most well-known landmarks on campus is the
statue of Will Rogers and his horse, Soapsuds. This memorial
was dedicated on February 16, 1950 by Amon G. Carter, a
longtime friend of Rogers, who believed Texas Tech was the
perfect setting for the statue. On the base of the statue, the
inscription reads, "Lovable Old Will Rogers on his favorite
horse, 'Soapsuds,' riding into the Western sunset." Today, Texas
Tech tradition and legend surrounds the statue. According to
one legend, the plan to position Rogers to ride off into the
sunset would cause Soapsuds' rear to be facing downtown;
to solve this problem, the sculpture was turned 23 degrees to
the east so the horse's posterior would face in the direction of
College Station and Texas A&M.
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