Little Rippy made a surprise appearance at the courthouse last Wednesday at the Annual Old Rip Ceremony. Publisher H.V. O’Brien of ECT Newspaper greeted the crowd, and County Judge David Hullum lead the crowd in the Old Rip Oath, written by O’Brien. The crowded lobby enjoyed the Siebert Singers who sang the Old Rip song and God Bless America.
Betty Armstrong, formerly of Eastland and best known as the “Horny Toad Lady”, who started the ceremony with H.V. O’Brien and former County Judge Scott Bailey gave some history on this event. The costumed Old Rippy made a surprise appearance and was returned to Eastland County Today Newspaper and Amy O’Brien-Glenn to preserve and keep the tradition alive for future generations. Armstrong is the maker of the stuffed Old Rips, Hats, Jewelry, and many other items at the encouragement of H.V. O’Brien and was encouraged by Judge Bailey to construct a costume. The costume has been on loan to Kenedy, Texas –“Horned Frog Capital of Texas” for several years, and now is back in Eastland “The home of the famous horned toad” thanks to Wade Phelps of Kenedy who read a declaration honoring Betty Armstrong and thanks for use of the costume for the past few years.
Armstrong asked Amy O’Brien-Glenn to receive the costume and pointed out the TCU Horned Toad Hat (worn by Amy), made by Armstrong in Honor of Levi who graduated from TCU 2015. Armstrong wrote to the newspaper, “In honor of our long-term friendship & partnership with H.V. O’Brien and the Newspaper and in our mutual effort to keep the story of Old Rip alive, I am giving my Old Rip Costume to H.V. and Amy to be preserved and displayed at 215 S. Seaman.”
