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Jack Ben Rabbit
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The "World's Largest Jack Rabbit" was first pioneered by former Attorney
General John Ben Shepperd during his term as Odessa Chamber of Commerce
president in 1962. Tom Taylor, who is the former head of the Texas Highway
Department Travel and Information Division first initiated the idea of the
fiberglass statue. Taylor suggested that the city erect a monument to the
jack rabbit, since there were so many in the area. In 1962, Odessa Chamber
of Commerce officials, under the leadership of John Ben Shepperd, erected
the 8-foot statue on Lincoln Street.
The $2,300
statue was designed by a California plastics firm. The jack rabbit had been the
target of many rumors and controversies. At one time an unsuccessful attempt was
made by local school children to secure a mate for the "lonely
rabbit." In 1970, then Chamber President Dan Hemphill called upon his
directors to "correct" the naming of the statue. Hemphill contended
that the jack rabbit really wasn't a rabbit at all, but a hare-a prairie hare,
to be exact.
In 1997, a
rabbit-napping was attempted. Which is now why Jack Ben Rabbit remains bolted to
the cement slab on the grounds of the Ector County Independent School District
Administration building.
The
"World's Largest Jack Rabbit" has become an historical landmark in
Odessa. In spite of all the events many people from all over have come and
continue to visit Odessa to see what the rabbit is all about.
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Odessa, Texas
Convention and Visitors Bureau
700 North Grant Suite 200
Odessa, Texas 79761
1-800-780-HOST (4678)
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