Texans love to fight about sports, and they especially love to make their allegiances known. As we think about the Texans both native and honorary who’ve made a mark on the playing field, court, track or gym—stars like Emmitt Smith, Sheryl Swoopes, Carl Lewis and Simone Biles—we want to know: Which sports figures most shaped Texas?

Texas 250: Who Shaped Texas is Chron’s swing at telling the story of Texas since America’s birth in 1776. We’ve come up with a list of 250 people—Texas natives and those who made their mark right here in the Lone Star State—ranking them by influence, impact, popularity, and the spirit and identity that makes them quintessentially Texan. 

We’re unveiling the full list and readers’ picks on July 1, just in time for America’s 250th birthday. But between now and then we’re asking you to take part.

Each week, you can vote each day for up to five people who you think are the greatest Texans of all-time.

For each round of voting, we’ll select one voter at random to win a $50 gas card.

Voting begins at 8 a.m. June 19 and ends at 11:59 p.m. June 25. On July 1st we’ll unveil our reader’s picks for the greatest Texan of all-time.

You know the people who get to “jump” the line at Walt Disney World with a special pass? We want to hook you up, too.

We comprise native Texans, longtime residents of the Lone Star State and newcomers with fresh opinions and insight. We spent months brainstorming, researching, debating and sorting our list, ending up with a ranking we feel represents the last 250 years of life down here in the home we now call Texas.Â