Robert 'Bob' 'Daddy-O' Wade



El Paso High School Distinguished Alumnus

Robert "Bob" "Daddy-O" Wade (1943–2019) 

Robert Schrope “Bob” Wade was one of Texas’s most imaginative and influential artists. Internationally recognized for his monumental sculptures and colorful interpretations of Southwestern culture, Wade helped define the Texas Funk Art movement and the Cosmic Cowboy aesthetic of the 1970s.



Wade attended El Paso High School, where El Paso’s vibrant border culture, hot-rod scene, and frequent visits to Ciudad Juárez helped shape the artistic vision that later made him famous. These experiences inspired his lifelong fascination with Southwestern imagery, roadside Americana, and larger-than-life Texas icons.

After studying at the University of Texas at Austin and earning a master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Wade became known for his innovative photo-emulsion canvases and monumental public sculptures. His most famous works include the World’s Largest Cowboy Boots in San Antonio and “Iggy,” the giant iguana sculpture now located at the Fort Worth Zoo.

Throughout his career, Wade served as an ambassador of Texas culture, exhibiting internationally while maintaining a distinctly Texan sense of humor and creativity. He received National Endowment for the Arts grants, and his work entered the collections of major institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Menil Collection.

Bob “Daddy-O” Wade passed away in 2019, leaving a legacy of imaginative public art that continues to delight audiences throughout Texas and beyond. As one of El Paso High School’s distinguished alumni, Wade demonstrated how the creativity and cultural richness of the Borderland can inspire art that resonates far beyond the Southwest.