Wow he's a whopper Miss Sherry! Could he be an american bird grasshopper? Looks like the picture in my audubon field guide. Sarah

If your 'hopper gets sick, take him to that home-hospital!

Looks like an Obscure Birdwing to me...

Thanks all!
I looked up obscure birdwing, and the pictures look just like my bug - birdwing is a good description, considering its size!
I thought he looked a bit ill, so I measured him with the appropriate ruler! :)
MissSherry

We have a few of these large type grasshoppers too. I always thought the all-brown ones were locusts, but they are actually called Banded Wing Grasshoppers. All the large types run about 3" long as adults. The best way to catch them is chase the same one until he gets tired of hopping. They can only make about 3 hops before they get tired. A butterfly net helps too (a minnow net works too).