If you're a Texan once, you'll ALWAYS be a Texan; and all my college friends still call me "Tex" (well, at least the ones that are still around to do so). I'm Texas born and reared, and my family was there before it became Texas. My Great, Great Grandmother was a Caddo Indian. In fact, despite a lifetime of globe-hopping and the fact that I rarely get back "home", I'm still a Texas resident!
Often, in very remote areas of the African bush I've been asked by natives where I came from. Many times I would enounter a blank expression when I said "USA" or "America", but every time those had failed, and I then said "Texas", they ALWAYS knew where that was! Their usual reply was "Cowboy"! (In English, I might add!)
Ed