Brad Tollefson

Professional Photojournalist

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Retrospective of Will Rogers and Soapsuds

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For roughly the past 10 years, my go-to spot to shoot any weather-related wild art has been the statue “Riding into the Sunset” by Electra Waggoner Biggs. This statue features Will Rogers and his horse Soapsuds.

Today would have been Will’s 140th birthday, and social media was filled with celebration of the famous author and humorist. Even Google celebrated him with a special doodle on the home page.

Therefore, I decided it would be an ideal time to search through my personal archive for images of Will riding Soapsuds through the entryway to Texas Tech.

I’ve posted many of these pictures over the years, but this is the first time they’ve been together in the same place. So along with this Twitter thread, here are some of my favorite photos of “Riding into the Sunset.”

Wrapped for national and local events

Before every home football game and many other important sports, the Saddle Tramps will wrap the statue in red crepe paper. And for more tragic events they’ll wrap it in black.

Occasionally, even normal students will find the time to wrap the statue. Such as in 2011, when the statue was wrapped in red, white and blue following the death of Osama bin Laden.

American flags and crepe paper hang from the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds following the news that Osama bin Laden was killed Monday, May 2, 2011, in Lubbock, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/The Daily Toreador)
American flags and crepe paper hang from the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds following the news that Osama bin Laden was killed Monday, May 2, 2011, in Lubbock, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/The Daily Toreador)
David Monroe takes a picture of Tammy and Kaitlyn Monroe in front of the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds before the football game against Stephen F. Austin, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
David Monroe takes a picture of Tammy and Kaitlyn Monroe in front of the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds before the football game against Stephen F. Austin, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is wrapped in black and blue crepe paper following the shooting of Floyd East Jr., Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is wrapped in black and blue crepe paper following the shooting of Floyd East Jr., Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]

Weather Events

Neither snow, nor heat, nor the gloom of night has kept me from going up to the statue to shoot photos in different weather. Over time, I have found myself standing at the foot of the statue during dust storms, rain, snow, lightning, sunsets and rainbows.

A rainbow stretches across the sky behind the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
A rainbow stretches across the sky behind the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Dust blows in the wind around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a kabob Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, in Lubbock, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/The Daily Toreador)
Dust blows in the wind around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a kabob Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, in Lubbock, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/The Daily Toreador)
Lightning flashes in the sky behind the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Lightning flashes in the sky behind the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Snow falls around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a snowstorm Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Snow falls around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a snowstorm Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is surrounded by fog and mist Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is surrounded by fog and mist Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is surrounded by fog and mist Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is surrounded by fog and mist Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Snow falls around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a snowstorm Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Snow falls around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a snowstorm Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Snow falls around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a snowstorm Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Snow falls around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds during a snowstorm Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The sun sets behind the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The sun sets behind the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]

Texas Tech Tulips and Spring Flowers

Each year the grounds maintenance staff at Texas Tech plants tens of thousands of tulip bulbs around campus. Including the prominent location around the statue.

Additionally, students plant flowers around campus for Arbor Day.

Red tulips grow around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Red tulips grow around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Red tulips grow around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
Red tulips grow around the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is surrounded by flowers after the Arbor Day plantings Monday, April 29, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
The statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds is surrounded by flowers after the Arbor Day plantings Monday, April 29, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]