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Great Big Signs does gargantuan work with a small staff.

By Steve Aust

Texas' ponderous geographic span creates a unique collage of topography, culture and history. From Dallas' fine-tuned commercial engine to Austin's vaguely bohemian cultural scene to the far-reaching beauty of the West Texas hill country, the Lone Star State has inspired a diverse array of legendary figures, such as pioneering rock 'n' roller Buddy Holly, Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Thanks to the shop's innovative sculptures, 3-D signs and environmental graphics, signmakers can count Lynn Wilkerson and Mario Munoz, co-founders of Kyle, TX-based Great Big Signs, among Texas' progeny of creative talent.

Getting started

A native of Amarillo, TX, Wilkerson was first artistically inspired by one of his grandfather's friends, who worked as a "snapper" (an old-school signpainter who traveled in search of employment). The snapper's car was quite an impressive calling card — he'd handcarved replicas of Native American headdresses and bolted them to the front and rear fenders. "Big Tex," the 52-ft.-tall cowpoke who greets visitors to the Dallas-based Texas State Fair, also inspired Wilkerson to design and build.

"In West Texas, making signs wasn't something someone normally aspired to," he recalled. "In fact, many of Texas' old-time signmakers received their training at the Huntsville Penitentiary, where they had a sign-education program."

Undeterred, Wilkerson earned a scholarship to Western State College's art school, where he learned the basics of environmental-graphic design. However, circumstances short-circuited school, and he joined an Oklahoma City-based company. His first supervisor, Troy Zumbro, a perfectionist, helped Wilkerson become a better signmaker.

"He'd just look over my shoulder and say things like, 'We need to start that again,' or 'I don't think that looks right,' and I would have to start over," he said. "Most of the time, though, I was the gopher or brush washer, and I would just try to spy on them and learn the techniques."

He also credits Ellison Edwards, owner of Abilene, TX-based Edwards Sign Co., with helping him develop a sense of professionalism. In competition with Edwards for jobs, Wilkerson frequently lost, despite lower bids. Edwards explained, "You show up looking like a dropcloth. I wear a button-down shirt and tie."