“A heart the size of Texas” or “A heart as big as Texas” (Texas saying)

To say that someone has “a heart the size of Texas” or “a heart as big as Texas” means that a person has a big heart. “A heart as big as Texas” has been cited in print since at least 1919 and “a heart the size of Texas” since at least 1970.
 
     
2 October 1919, Macon (GA) Daily Telegraph,  “Says Church Will Save Civilization,” pg. 1, col. 4:
Dr. Cree referred to Dr. Yates as “a man with a heart as big as Texas and as sweet as a Georgia peach.”
 
14 January 1939, Dunkirk Evening Observer, pg. 14, col. 6 ad:
His Heart Was As Big As Texas!
Her’s As Gay As Palm Beach!
(The film “The Cowboy and the Lady” with Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon—ed.)
   
6 April 1941, Omaha (NE) World Herald, “Burden of Guilt” by Mark Hellinger, pg. 4C, col. 4:
“Why, he’s got a heart as big as Texas!”
 
The Official Website for Gene Autry
The Gene Autry Show:
The Complete 1950s
Television Recordings
32. A Heart As Big As Texas (0:44)
(Oakley Haldeman/Buddy Feyne)
Episode 23 – “The Peacemaker”
Telecast 12/17/50
 
21 February 1970, Winnipeg (Manitoba) Free Press, “Happy Fella for Glee Club,” New Leisure, pg. 9, col. 2:
You will also meet such varied characters as Herman, a pushover with a heart the size of Texas, and Cleo, his shady lady.
 
14 December 1981, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “An ‘expert’ admits it: Cowboys are the best around” by Skip Bayless, pg. B1, col. 3:
Sunday, the Eagles went after old friend Dennis Thurman, the little man with the heart the size of Texas.
     
Google Books
The World of Credit
By David B. Triemert
Long Beach, CA: Papermate Pub. Co.
1986
Pg. 33:
I have a heart the size of Texas but my skin is an inch thick when I search for love to send the CRAs.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
A heart as big as Texas
Author: Emma Goldrick
Publisher: Toronto : Harlequin Books, 1990, ©1989.
Series: Harlequin presents—, 1281
Edition/Format:  Book : Fiction : English : Harlequin presents 1st ed. July 1990
       
18 May 1990, The Morning Call (Allentown, PA), “‘Cadillac Man’ is Robin Williams’ latest vehicle” by Paul Willistein, AM Magazine, pg. D1:
“He’s got a heart the size of Texas,” said Reed, star of “Grand,” which NBC-TV has renewed for next season.
   
OCLC WorldCat record
A heart as big as Texas
Author: K N Casper
Publisher: Richmond : Silhouette, 2007.
Series: Silhouette superromance. 
Edition/Format:  Book : Fiction : English
 
ABC News
Mavs Show Their Depth, Teamwork in Title Clincher
By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI June 13, 2011 (AP)
(...)
“I mean, (Miami) had three pieces, but we have 14 or 15. With that kind of confidence in each other — the system, the coaching staff — we just believed,” Terry continued. “This team has the heart the size of Texas.”
 
Montgomery Herald (Troy, NC)
Yadkin Valley Conference basketball tournament review and predictions
Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 11:31 am | Updated: 1:27 pm, Mon Feb 13, 2012.
by Jon Galloway
(...)
And finally, the host team East Montgomery. The Lady Eagles have a heart the size of Texas as the old saying goes.