Don't mess with Texas advertising

The iconic Don't Mess With Texas anti-littering campaign (which recently turned 20 years old) won itself a nice award last week.

"Don't Mess With Texas," the 20-year-old public service campaign slogan created by Austin advertising firm GSD&M for the Texas Department of Transportation, has won the third annual Advertising Week Walk of Fame competition, sponsored by Yahoo! and USA Today.

"Don't Mess With Texas," which received more than 400,000 votes, beat high-profile slogans such as Nike's "Just Do It," Maxwell House's "Good to the Last Drop" and "Got Milk?" from the California Milk Processors Board.

Advertising Week, held in New York City, is North America's largest annual gathering of advertising and media industry decision-makers, according to event organizers.

As the winner of the contest, "Don't Mess With Texas" will earn a spot on New York's famous Madison Avenue, and receive a bronze plaque that will rest on Madison Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, along with victory banners lining the famous street.

The heck with plaques. What they really should do is set up a couple of TVs and showcase some of DMWT's best spots. Like this one, from way back in 1986:

Man, if that didn't give you goosebumps, I suggest you see your doctor. Congratulations to all involved. Link via Houstonist.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on October 04, 2006 to The great state of Texas | TrackBack