~ Some BIG Texas stars, for one thing!
~ How about a big map of the state of Texas with flags on spots that mean something to your DH (born here; school here, etc.) Let guests add their own to it, perhaps.
~ music

~ How about a memory book for guests to write remembrances and notes to the guest of honor?
~ ask guests to bring along copies of pics of themselves and your DH, etc. to paste into the memory book for him to remember the party and his family and freinds with long after the special day

yeppers Lynne....I had the music CD's of old western music and gospel music....BUT, I didn't think of the map and that would be way cool!!!
I will get some sort of book too, and I already have a red white and blue pen :^) Neat ideas...thank you so much.

Sounds like you have put in a lot of thought - I think thats going to be a great party!

Mo

The memory book idea sounds fantastic. And definitely some Texas STARS. Hey, I didn't see a Stetson on your list, LOL. How about an old one turned upside down and something put in it for decor?

hugs, Karen

This may be too hokey for you (probably for most people), but if you're serving dinner as a buffet on a rectangular table, I get some big pieces of cardboard, cut and paint them like wagon wheels, stick them at either end of the table to simulate a wagon and label the table "Chuck Wagon."
And maybe some red lanterns - the kind that the bad guys threw into the barn to start a fire.

It all sounds great to me, congrats to your DH, I know he will be thrilled. Luvs

Jaybird, Your party plans for DH's 75th sound great and I know he and everyone else will enjoy it so much. I agree that you must have some stars and a stetson on display also. The memory book is also a great idea. And I love the "Chuck Wagon" idea. Yall will have a wonderful time & give DH a big Happy Birthday from us all.

Wow, thanks!!
I had the Stetson idea, but can't think what to put in it...it's pretty well worn..... He has a couple, maybe I will just hang them on the coat rack for decoration!
I LOVE the chuck wagon idea OA....I will hunt some big cardboard....too bad we aren't planning to have a Bar-b-q....but it will be so much easier to have finger foods. The room we are using is none too big for the number of folks!
Thank you all so much for your help!!

Jaybird,
Just thought of something else. Your nut dishes should have a lot of pecans. It's the state tree.

One menu on the buffet table or little cards by the finger foods might read:
Texas Longhorn Meatballs (State large mammal.)
Armadillo BBQ Sausage (State small mammal)
Alamo cheese cubes
Rio Grande Coffee
Dallas Cowboy Cupcakes
Space Station Veggies
Assorted NASA nuts

Have fun!!

How about barbed wire or lariet napkin rings?

I did a Texas Roundup party for 100 people a few years ago. Just for giggles? I tied off the ends of a man's cowboy shirt & jeans and stuffed them with whatever (old sheets, towels-whatever. I added a belt to help define the waist as well. To make the head-I used a plastic grocery bag-stuffed it & shape it in a head form-keeping the front of it flattened. I used safety pins to hook it inside of the shirt collar. In essence-I built a cowboy. You could then find a great frontal headshot of your hubs-have a copy blown up to the size of the face-cut out just the face & glue/tape it to the flattened area. Tie a neckscarf (bandana print) to hide the attached head. Place the Stetson on the head (maybe add a short style wig on it first?). I placed a bale of hay in a corner of the room for this 'scene', propped the man sitting on the hay bale (anchored w/fishing line to keep him from leaning forward) & positioned a guitar, so it looked like he was playing it. Prop a lasso along the hay bale too. Once he is in place-add cowboy boots by stuffing the pantlegs into the boots. For more added effect-I placed a bunch of firewood in front of him to look like a campfire and added 3 of those paper flame lights to depict the campfire. Natch-you'd have to place this near an outlet, so you can plug in the flame lights. It got lots of comments. You might even have a sign sticking up from the hay bale that says "I'm An OLD cowhand...!"

Sounds like you've got a Grand time planned for DH..how exciting. As I was thinking of things to add to your list...Hats/Boots/Bails of Hay...seems like everyone added that to your list.
Do you know of anyone who does Caricature Drawings? They could do one of your DH in 'Texas' gear.
My DSIL is a Creative Designer, and does these on the side for people for gifts and parties. He does them very large on poster board and they are mounted on an 'Easel'. Each guest signs their names to it. Some even add a little note. It becomes a gift for DH and also a great rememberance of who was there. Also, during the course of the evening, everyone enjoys looking at it and reading the little notes.
jane

Wow..jay..I was just reading over my post to you...and it doesn't read as I meant it to. I'm not suggesting for my DSIL to do it ...lol..Not At All. I'm sure someone can suggest an artist by you, who does these. Sorry if I confused you.
jane

I'd forgotten about caricature drawings. There are places on-line that you can uplaod a picture of your husband and then tell them what you'd like him to be doing, what the background should look like, what objects you want around him (fishing pole, stamp collection, - hobby type stuff), etc. And Slinkey is right about signing around the edges of the mat. I did this for a retirement dinner I gave for a fellow teacher and she now has it hanging in her home office. Everyone at the party loved it too - a real conversation piece. The company I used sent you a URL to go and check it out before they printed it and you got to approve or make changes. And that's just what I did and there was no hassle about it.
Its worth a look-see.
OA

Thanks OA for backing me up on this thought. It really is a big hit w/people at these gatherings. In fact, my DSIL did one for my DD and him, for their wedding day. (Dressed up for their Wedding) They displayed it at their reception. As everyone entered they saw it, and they loved the idea. They still have it, and it's so nice to see all the names of the people who were there and read their messages. Also, he's done it for my Grandkids when they had their first Birthday parties.

Y'all are just too smart!!! The cowboy thing would be easy...DH has all of the "supplies", including the guitar!! I wouldn't have to worry too much about a wig...a cotton ball or two would be appropriate :^)
The Carricature would be cute too....and Slinkey I didn't even THINK any offense! I'll have to check around and see what I can find.
OA, I love your food titles....I can do that easily since my DD can make the signs....that will be great!
Kathie, I love the napkin ring idea, but we will be just using wooden caddies for the napkins, plates and tableware. I may use your idea for "ties" around the flower vases though...thanks!
I appreciate you all for thinking with me!