Texas designated Blue Lacy as the official state dog breed on June 18, 2005. All State Dogs
The Blue Lacy dog breed was developed in the mid 1800's by the Lacy Brothers of Burnet County, Texas (Frank, George, Edwin, and Harry Lacy). The family is said to have used greyhound, scent-hound, and coyote stock. The Blue Lacy is officially recognized by the National Kennel Club (NKC).
Texas designated Brachiosaur sauropod, Pleurocoelus as the official state dinosaur in 1997. But in 2007, paleontologists re-identified the bones and footprints as Paluxysaurus Jonesi. The dinosaur is named for the town of Paluxy in Hood County and for the Paluxy River, both of which are near the Jones Ranch site where the fossils of this species were discovered.
Kid Cardona was designated the official caricature artist of Texas on Feb 11, 1997 for recreating the wild west in his artwork. Kid is a self-taught artist. All Art & Drama Symbols
Quote from Kid Cardona, 2005; "You don't have to be a great artist to do great things with your art - drawing can open a whole world if you learn how to look in simple ways."
Texas designated the Confederate Air Force as the official state air force (it was renamed the Commemorative Air Force in 2002) with Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 114 in 1989. The Commemorative Air Force of Texas is a non-profit organization which preserves and displays WWII aircraft for charitable and educational purposes. All State Vessels & Aircraft
The Dutch oven was designated the state cooking vessel of Texas in 2005. All Cultural Heritage Symbols
The state seal of Texas features the famous Lone Star (also found on the state flag). All State Seals
The nickname for Texas, "The Lone Star State," was made official in 2015 (House Concurrent Resolution No. 78, 84th Legislature, Regular Session). All State Nicknames
Texas designated the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) as the official state small mammal in 1995 (Texas also recognizes an official large mammal and a flying mammal symbol). All State Mammals
Texas designated the guitar as the official state musical instrument in 1997. All Music & Dance Symbols
WHEREAS, Of the many contributions that Texas has made to the world at large, music is one of the most notable and appreciated, for the Lone Star State is internationally recognized as the birthplace of an unusually wide variety of influential and well-loved music; and
Texas designated the mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) as official state bird in 1927 (Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, 40th Legislature). All State Birds
Northern Mockingbirds have extraordinary vocal abilities; they can sing up to 200 songs, including the songs of other birds, insect and amphibian sounds, even an occasional mechanical noise. The northern mockingbird is also the state bird of Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi.