State Fair of Texas Worker Returns for 45th Year

Eugene “Junker” Wilkerson has been a part of the State Fair of Texas every year since 1971.

“Some of the people that are up walking the floats were in strollers when I first started coming here,” he said.

Wilkerson oversees the floats for the parade.

Your Fair Photos 2015

He said he got hooked after seeing the people involved with the parade as a young man.

“I just really enjoyed it the crowds and how they’d clap for you when you’d gear up,” he said.

More than four decades later, Wilkerson is still working at the fair.

“It makes me feel pretty good,” he said. “I suppose it’s about being involved in the parade and the floats.”