50 years for the award-winning promoter, 100 for the Classic
By Anthony Council
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
Every fall, the Cotton Bowl transforms into more than a football field, it becomes a stage for culture, tradition, and community.
It’s where Prairie View A&M and Grambling State reignite one of college football’s most storied rivalries.
This year marks the 100th State Fair Classic, and for 50 years, Al Wash has ensured the event is about far more than the scoreboard.
Since 1886, The State Fair of Texas has been a big hit and the Classic, which started out as “Negro Day,” has been where African Americans gathered to celebrate the HBCU experience.
Wash considers the classic to be more than a game. It is an event. In addition to the meeting on the gridiron, there’s the Battle of the Bands, the scholarship fundraisers and recruitment fairs, and the pageantry showcasing the campus queens.
To top everything off, the entire Classic Weekend is like a family reunion so there’s also good food and a fashion show.
Often praised for the boost to the economy that’s a result of thousands visiting the malls and specialty stores to pick up outfits and team gear.
And a big crowd is what he is anticipating from this year’s classic, which annually ranks in the top five of HBCU Classics. Coming from a large family, Wash is used to crowds and as the CEO of ALW Entertainment, the astute businessman, philanthropist and community leader is preparing to host a huge crowd on Saturday, September 27, 2025 with a pregame and postgame show.
The State Fair has people traveingl from near and far to enjoy the smorgasbord from the largest and best State Fair in the country.
Beyond the gridiron, the Centennial Celebration will ignite the entire community with a sponsors’ mixer and tailgating on MLK Boulevard, barbecue cook-offs, social parties, and the Dallas PV Alumni Scholarship gala, the annual Grambling Battle of the High School Bands, and storytelling circles with former players and local businesses decked out in team colors, offering celebratory specials.
In addition to the Legendary Grambling Coach Eddie Robinson, there have been numerous highlights of the Classic. In 1925 at the Inaugural Classic, Langston met Wiley in the showdown on a dirt field; in 1967 Coach Robinson breaks all-time wins mark with a 27–7 victory; in 1971 Doug Williams’ throws his first collegiate touchdown; and in 1986 it was the “Grease Lightning” Upset with Victor Pegram & Ernest Brow leading a historic 24–19 win over No. 13 Grambling.
Once you walk through the gates, the excitement coupled with the camaraderie of the family reunion-like atmosphere is contagious. Even if you didn’t attend either of the schools, it’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of the day.
It’s just what Wash dreamt of and brings to the Metroplex annually.
Born in San Antonio, one of seven children, Wash played at Blinn Junior College and the University of Tennessee at Martin where he majored in criminal justice. He enjoyed brief stints in the NFL with the Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos.
Wash moved to Dallas, for what he thought would be a brief stint, but it has instead turned into a lifetime commitment with a legacy for lifting as he climbs.
He began working for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, where he built the recreation program from the ground up and ran it for seven years, using many of his resources.
“When you use your own money, you learn real quick. That’s what I’ve been doing for 50 years learning real quick,” he said.
Wash’s first entertainment venture was a celebrity track meet featuring professional athletes like football greats Hollywood Henderson, Tony Dorsett, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and basketball great and former SMU standout Ira Terrell.
“It was a fun event, and they partied from there,” he recalled, adding that the event led to his first concert featuring the popular crooner Johnny Taylor.
From there, Wash booked acts like Millie Jackson, B.B. King, and Bobby “Blue” Bland, Michael Jackson, Prince, Tyler Perry, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Fantasia, Lyfe Jennings, Gladys Knight, Dave Koz, Boys II Men, KEM, Brian Culbertson, Warren Hill, and Chante Moore.
“When the industry changed, entertainment changed,” he recalled. “We didn’t know how to market it, so we took that road to make it happen and make it successful.”
According to Wash, he was focused and worked hard. He expanded into hip-hop, comedy, gospel shows and stage plays, booking “anything that Black people would buy a ticket to.”
When the previous promoter of the State Fair Classic stepped away, Wash took over. Attendance jumped from 15,000-16,000 to 20,000 in his first year.
“They told me, ‘You did it, it was successful,’” he said, as he added pregame and postgame concerts to bring fans early and keep them on the fairgrounds, long after the game was over.
“I started bringing entertainment to the football games because I knew that Black people were always going to be late,” he explained.
Over the years, Wash has also worked with major acts, from Destiny’s Child to Christina Aguilera and Big Daddy Kane to a highlight of this year’s Fair, popular girl group TLC.
“Parents had kids on their shoulders and people couldn’t see over the kids,” he said, noting that every show is a great show.
His philosophy remains simple: “There’s no such thing as bad shows; it’s just a bad deal.”
The State Fair Classic is not a big deal and Wash has been praised for hosting one of the best shows in Texas. And it’s just one of his many successful ventures.
For the 100th Classic, Wash is bringing local talent, block parties, and affordable tickets.
“This year is going to be record-breaking numbers, I can feel that,” he said.
And as always, he sums up his mission simply: “keep it one hundred.”
Honoring history, celebrating culture, and building a tradition for the next generation, Wash said he’s been grooming his children, Quinton, Albert II, and Alijah, to lead the next century, because “the show must go on!”
D. Blair and staff contributed to this report.
