For years, J.M. Morrow said, she griped to people at Fair Park about the bump she had to overcome in her wheelchair to get into the Hall of State.
Morrow, 65, a longtime State Fair of Texas enthusiast, said the bump wasn't so bad that she couldn't maneuver it. But was a nuisance, one she'd mentioned repeatedly to State Fair officials.
Still, the bump remained.
Remained, that is, until last Friday, when it was fixed just hours before the arrival of Gov. Greg Abbott.
Explanations for the timing of the repair seem to differ.
Morrow said a fair official told her the work was taking place that day because the State Fair was getting ready for "a special guest."
Celia Barshop, a Dallas Park and Recreation Department manager, said the repair was unrelated to Abbott's visit. She said Park Director Willis Winters happened to notice the bump at the end of the ramp on the morning the fair opened and ordered city crews to fix it immediately. Winters did not return telephone calls.
Barshop initially said maintenance of the Hall of State was the historical society's responsibility, but later clarified that entailed requesting work from the city's maintenance department
Shannon Roberts, director of the historical society, said repairs to the building were the city's responsibility. She said that she asked the city months ago to fix the bumpy ramp and that nothing was done -- until the day of Abbott's visit.
A call to Abbott's office was not returned.
When the governor spoke at the fair's opening ceremony, it was in front of the Hall of State.
It's unknown if he used the freshly repaired wheelchair entrance, or even if he knows it exists.
Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, spoke at the State Fair's opening ceremony Friday evening.
"The city of Dallas has not cared to do it for anyone else," Morrow said. "But if the governor shows up, by God, let's get it fixed."
Earlier that day, Morrow visited the fair and tried to see the "Big Texas Music" exhibit in the Hall of State.
She couldn't get in the door for people with wheelchairs -- the door that in previous years had that annoying bump at the end of its angled entrance ramp. City workers were busy laying fresh concrete.
The last-minute repair kept "people who paid admission from seeing the exhibits," she said, adding: "I doubt the governor had to pay admission."
Officials from the city and the Dallas Historical Society, which operates the Hall of State, acknowledged that fairgoers were turned away for about six hours while the ramp was fixed. They apologized to Morrow for the inconvenience. She and her party were offered free fair admission and free parking to return another day. Morrow, who lives in Dallas, said she and her husband were planning to go out of town and it was unlikely they'd get back to the fair this year.
