WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

August 4, 2024

Vol. 2, No. 31

MASCOT CONNECTIONS

There is something about mascots. Whether their size, shape, or what they represent, mascots are everywhere. The traditional meaning of a mascot is “a person, animal, or object adopted by a group as a symbolic figure especially to bring them good luck.” It may not surprise anyone to know that animals are my favorite mascots.

Although Toys “R” Us is a fraction of what it once was, Geoffrey the Giraffe remains the mascot as the company slowly emerges after going defunct more than six years ago. The toy company’s late founder, Charles Lazarus, dreamed big from an early age. It is thus fitting that the giraffe is associated with his dream, one that transformed the imaginations of children and adults alike for more than sixty years.

The panther is the mascot of the small Wisconsin high school I attended more than 40 years ago. The panther is also the mascot of my alma mater, Drury University. When I graduated in 1986, it was known as Drury College. Panthers are mascots for many more schools and businesses, but the hearty bulldog reigns supreme. In 1889, Yale University’s first mascot in 1889 was a bulldog known as Handsome Dan.

For those of you wondering why KC Wolf is the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs, he replaced the horse War Paint in 1989 as a tribute to a passionate group of fans known as the “wolf pack.” KC Wolf is now a fan favorite far outside Kansas City, entertaining individuals and groups throughout the United States and the world.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

As children and adults head back to school or attend school for the first time, learn more about the school mascot. Whether purchasing fan wear for the family or a small token of the mascot for good luck, mascot connections can lead to a lifetime of memories. To help children develop new words and learn new skills, see how many words they can make from the letters in the phrase “Mascot Connections.”

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[1] Copyright August 4, 2024. Winston Weekly is a weekly newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles and is available at www.baylesandbruce.com or by e-mail at baylesandbruce@gmail.com. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Alysen’s views are her own.