Jim Kirk originally wrote and performed "The Spirit of Texas" in 1984, transforming it into a news and image campaign for WFAA-TV in Dallas for TM Productions that same year.

Shortly thereafter, east-Texas band Mason Dixon (comprised of Frank Gilligan, Jerry Dengler, and Rick Henderson) began performing the song in a manner that caught the attention of WFAA and owner Belo. They partnered with Mason Dixon for the Texas sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) along with radio station KPLX-FM, producing a single and donating the money to chartiy.

Mason Dixon included their version of the song on a 1986 album featuring "The Spirit of Texas" as the A1 song along with 13 additional Texas-themed anthems.