West Virginia Mountaineer
Encyclopedia
History
In the 1920s the unofficial mascot appeared at West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
sporting events wearing flannel shirts, bearskin capes and coonskin caps. At first volunteers, Burton “Irish” Crow, Lawson Hill, William “Buckwheat” Jackson, among others made appearances throughout the season.
Beginning in 1928, The Monticola (the WVU yearbook) sponsored a contest to determine the male senior who had contributed most to the university throughout his four years in college. This male was entitled to be, “The Mountaineer.” However, within the next decade the choice shifted to a person who suited the role. This dropped the restriction of a male senior, who had done the most for the university.
In 1936, the Mountain honorary society selected Boyd Harrison “Slim” Arnold to be the first official “buckskin-clad”. The new system of appointing the mountaineer, led to the same person holding the honor three consecutive years. Also, a person who was not officially enrolled in the university once held the honor.
The Mountain honorary society was not active for three years, during this time the president of the student body was responsible for choosing the Mountaineer. (3)
Currently, The Mountain Honorary Society still chooses the Mountaineer through an intense application and interview process. Finalists are decided based on outstanding character and enthusiasm. Finalists then compete in a cheer-off at a WVU basketball game. The winner receives a tuition waiver or scholarship.
The Mountaineer was first used in commerce in 1972 and registered as a U.S. trademark in 1985. Mountaineer’s retired rifles, and costumes are housed in a glass case in the Vandalia lounge of the Mountainlair, located on the downtown campus. In 1950, The Mountain Honorary Society held a Mountaineer Statue Festival raising $15,000. This bought the bronze statue of the Mountaineer in the Mountainlair front lawn.
| List of Past Mountaineers |
|---|
| Clay Crouse – 1927 |
| Burdette “Irish” Crow – 1932-33 |
| William “Bill” Fahey – 1933-34 |
| Lawson M. Hill – 1934-35 (deceased) |
| William “Buckwheat” Jackson – 1936-37 (deceased) |
| Boyd H. “Slim” Arnold – 1937-39 (deceased) |
| Julius W. Singleton Jr. – 1940-1941 (deceased) |
| William F. Gott – 1942-43 (deceased) |
| War Years – 1943-44 |
| Robert L. Carr – 1945 |
| James G. Couglin – 1946 (deceased) |
| Sidney H. Gillis – 1947 |
| Matthew W. Harrison Jr. – 1948 (deceased) |
| John P. Russell – 1949 |
| Thomas A. Deveny III – 1950 |
| James Almond – 1951 (deceased) |
| Dan B. Fleming – 1952 |
| Dan R. Oliker – 1953 |
| John Coyner – 1954 |
| Fred S. Pattison – 1955 (deceased) |
| Larry Reppert – 1956 |
| James L. McCoy – 1957 (deceased) |
| Robert H. Allen – 1958 |
| David L. Ellis – 1959 |
| William R. McPherson – 1960 (deceased) |
| Jerry S. Sturm – 1961 |
| William D. Thompson – 1962 |
| William W. “Buck” Rogers Jr. – 1963 |
| Edward S. Pritchard – 1964-65 (deceased) |
| Kenneth B. Fonville – 1966 |
| Louis A. Garvin Jr. – 1967 |
| Frederick G. Reel – 1968, 1969 |
| Douglas F. Townshend – 1970 |
| Robert S. Lowe – 1971 |
| Mark Lothes – 1972 |
| Stuart A. Wolpert – 1973, 1974 |
| Junior Taylor – 1975 |
| Jerome E. Scherer – 1976 |
| Bruce D. Heisler – 1977 |
| Richard D. Poling – 1978 |
| James Campbell – 1979 |
| Cecil C. Graham – 1980 |
| Andy M. Mergler – 1981 |
| Ed R. Cokeley – 1981 |
| Robert E. Richardson – 1982 |
| Michael G. Russell – 1983 |
| Mark Boggs – 1984 |
| Tim S. Nilan – 1985 |
| Matt P. Zervos – 1986 |
| Tom E. Dulaney Jr. – 1987 |
| Dan C. Pearson – 1988 |
| Benjamin F. White – 1989 |
| Natalie E. Tennant – 1990 |
| Rock S. Wilson – 1991, 1992, 1993 |
| John R. Stemple – 1994, 1995 |
| Andrew R. Cogar – 1996, 1997 |
| Brandon S. Flower – 1998, 1999 |
| Scott W. Moore – 2000, 2001 |
| Trey Hinrichs – 2002, 2003 |
| Derek Fincham – 2004, 2005 |
| Brady Campbell – 2006, 2007 |
| Michael Squires – 2008 |
| Rebecca Durst – 2009 |
| Brock Burwell - 2010, 2011 |
Duties
The responsibilities of the Mountaineer Mascot are set forth by theMountaineer Advisory Committee Manual Regulations. The Mountaineer must attend every away and home West Virginia Mountaineers football
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
game, as well as every home men’s and women’s basketball games. They might also be required to travel with the team as determined by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. The mascot is also encouraged to attend certain events such as alumni events, community events, and visit the WVU Children’s Hospital. He or she is also responsible for the cleaning, care, and handling of the rifle and no one else is allowed to fire it except for himself or herself or the Alternate Mountaineer. Additionally, the Mountaineer is expected to follow a proper code of conduct at all times. While in costume, the mascot cannot be under the influence of alcohol or use tobacco at any time, and may not accept money or gifts for appearances or endorse a company or product for profit.
Traditions
The Mountaineer Mascot is a part of many traditions at West Virginia University. Most of them are associated with sporting events. It is the Mountaineer who leads the football team onto Mountaineer Field every game, firing his or her rifle into the air. The Mountaineer also leads the fans, along with the cheerleaders, on the football field and the basketball court in the Let’s Go Mountaineers cheer and other cheers.Other schools with Mountaineer Mascot
- Appalachian State UniversityAppalachian State UniversityAppalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
- Berea CollegeBerea CollegeBerea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
- Eastern Oregon UniversityEastern Oregon UniversityEastern Oregon University is one of seven state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the State of Oregon and belongs to the Oregon University System...
- Mansfield University
- Mount Saint Mary's College http://www.msmc.la.edu/pages/1.asp
- Schreiner College
- Southern Vermont CollegeSouthern Vermont CollegeSouthern Vermont College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located on the former Edward Everett Estate near Bennington, Vermont in the southwestern corner of the state bordering New York and Massachusetts.-Overview:...
- Western State College
External links
- http://www.wvu.edu
- http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/6149922
- http://alumni.wvu.edu/traditions/mountaineer_mascot
- http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/4442/
- http://archive.uwire.com/2008/03/24/musket-and-moccasins-wvu-student-stands-out-as-mountaineer-mascot/
- http://www.wvmountaineersports.com/introducing-ralphie-the-2nd-best-mascot-in-college-football.htm