By Mark Kneubuhl
Special to LIVE!
October 12, 2007

As America grows and our population increases, some of our more noble attributes have been traded in for a fast buck or simply disregarded as a matter of convenience. Despite this national trend, in San Angelo, there remains sense of community service: That strong desire to pitch in and do something to improve things for the betterment of all.

One such group of like-minded individuals has coagulated into a non-profit organization, aptly named, Downtown San Angelo, Inc (DTSA). The board of directors, advisors and members of the organization consists of a virtual ‘who’s who’ of the community and are collectively responsible for many recent improvements in the downtown area.

The most visible venture to date is the “Alleyscapes” project where DTSA commissioned artists to paint murals in dozens of otherwise drab downtown alleyways. A group of local artists called “Art in Uncommon Places” have played a big part in the Alleyscapes project.

DTSA is also involved in marketing the downtown’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new business and tourists alike. The organization focuses on improving the downtown’s image by enhancing its physical appearance. They advocate not just improving the appearance of buildings, but also the existence of streetlights, improved window displays, facilitating more parking areas, signage, infrastructure, promotional materials, and all other elements that convey a visual message about downtown.

Their most ambitious project to date, one that has been in the planning stages for months, is about reveal itself.

Dubbed “Sheeptacular,” the day-long event to be held on October 13th will feature a fiberglass sheep art project, sheep on parade, a Miss Wool memorabilia display and will end with the Shepard’s Shindig, baaaa-beque and dance.

The fiberglass sheep art project is the focal point of the event where DTSA purchased and resold 28 large sheep statues to various sponsors. The sponsors have in turn commissioned artists to decorate the sheep in whatever fashion they desire.

“Mostly companies and organizations are participating… but some individuals also bought sheep,” said DTSA Executive Assistant, Lucie Hofheins.

“Even a group of employees at a local company all pitched in and bought one. They’re decorating it as a surprise for their boss. It’s a secret,” she added.

The well-known New Mexico artist Charlette Northcutt will be transforming one of the statues, which promises a motif leaning toward the Southwest. Miss Northcutt presently lives in Robert Lee. Also, local artist Renee Alvarado has a sheep in his studio, which he is decorating for the Multi-Chem Group.

The idea of celebrating sheep and our history as once the inland wool capital of the nation, was originally (no surprise here), the idea of Sandy Whittley, the Executive Secretary of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association. Whittley has been a member of the association since 1966 and fondly remembers that heyday, which culminated each year in the 60s and early 70s with a national Miss Wool Beauty Pageant.

“But Brenda was the one who grabbed the idea and ran like the dickens with it,” said Whittley of the DTSA board member, Brenda Gunter.

“She’s the one who really put this thing together,” added Whittley.

But of course the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association is also participating. It has purchased and is decorating one of the 60” long, 49” high fiberglasss animals.

Hofheins also told LIVE! about the descendants of a Sterling City family who had been wool ranchers many years ago. The Foster-Sims-Price family went ahead and purchased one of the fiberglass sheep and are participating in the festivities in memory of their ancestors.

All American Chevrolet donated 25 brand new pickups to parade the sheep through downtown. Afterwards, participants will vote on the one that deserves the title “Miss Wool – 2007.”

They say that beauty is only skin deep, unfortunately none of the contestants in this year’s Miss Wool can sing or play an instrument, so looks is all they’ve got!

After the event, the sheep will be permanently placed around town and a map will be created for tourists to do a “sheep-walk,” said the DTSA spokesperson.

On a national scale, the Miss Wool Beauty Pageants of the 60s and 70s was unarguably San Angelo’s finest of moments. Contestants would arrive from all corners of the country along with celebrity emcees and judges.

“When I was a little girl, I grew up with those pageants. I went to all of them,” said Angelo State media archivist, Erma Haney.

Haney also told LIVE! of one year when Lyle Wagner from the Carol Brunette Show was the emcee and being so popular he was nearly mobbed by scores of curious and adoring fans.

“They were just happy to see him. We’ve never seen anything like that before. It was quite a scene. I think they all just wanted to touch him,” said Haney.

One year contestants rode on a series of barges, another year in sailboats, making the parade a float down the Concho River. One year they paraded up and down the streets of downtown in Brand-new Oldsmobile convertibles, all donated by a local Olds dealership.

The Miss Wool Memorabilia exhibition is an all-day event and will be held in the Jabberwocky Building on Concho Street, next to Eggemeyers.

In the evening, DTSA is sponsoring the Shepherd’s Shindig to be held at Merchant’s Alley- a product of their “Alleyscapes” project. Twelve table top-sized sheep were given to Central High School art students who are decorating them. These mini-sheep will be the centerpieces at the shindig and auctioned off throughout the evening. This crowning event promises to be “shear magic” with lots of dancing and great Texas food.

“We’re trying to bring business and residents back to the downtown area. For a long time this was the active hub for all San Angelo residents, whether it be for shopping, entertainment or business. We’re working on bringing all that back,” concluded DTSA Executive Director Del Velasquez.