Cartoon Mascot Being Dumped? The Daily Cartoonist
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Extra Faculty Information: Cartoon Mascot Being Dumped?
In Huntington Seaside, California college students at Golden West School have begun discussing
whether or not to interchange their mascot with a extra acceptable different.
As soon as they give you a consensus, they may make a suggestion to the administration, however that hasn’t occurred but. No choices have been made about something, nevertheless it’s turn into a sizzling subject on our campus.”
A gaggle of Golden West School college students might quickly search to ship the varsity’s mascot, Rustler Sam, driving off into the sundown as soon as and for all.
In September, the Related College students of Golden West School (ASGWC) scholar council created a Mascot Change Process Drive to start discovering replacements for the present college mascot.
“Our scholar authorities has determined that they need to consider the mascot,” Golden West director of promoting and public relations Pam Brashear mentioned.
The L. A. Times carries the story.
What carry this story to those elements is the origins of Rustler Sam.
A “rustler” is an individual who rounds up and steals cattle, horses or sheep. Tom Ryan, creator of the cartoon strip “Tumbleweeds,” created a cartoonish determine known as Rustler Sam for the school in 1968, three years after it was established.
According to a 2009 article celebrating the 40th anniversary of Rustler Sam:
College students who admired the nationally syndicated Tumbleweeds caricature character Tumbleweed wrote to its creator, Tom Okay. Ryan, in Muncie, Ind., in 1968 to ask if they may use it as their mascot.
Ryan wrote again to say that he didn’t suppose Sagebrush Sam would work, however he drew them their very personal cowpoke as an alternative.
There was additionally the matter of Sagebrush Sam (and all the Tumbleweeds forged of characters) being owned, on the time, by The Register and Tribune Syndicate and never Tom K. Ryan.
So Tom drew them a brand new character with a definite Tumbleweeds look.
As fee, Ryan requested for an “additional massive sweatshirt with emblem imprint when accessible,” a faculty pennant and photos of the school.
Rustler Sam was adopted by the campus because the official mascot in 1969.
Within the Nineties Sam misplaced the beard and the cigarette.
The college stopped utilizing the cartoonish determine altogether in 2005. However Golden West’s athletic groups are nonetheless known as the Rustlers, and Rustler Sam continues to be listed because the official mascot.
Golden West’s athletic applications now characteristic a extra menacing silhouette-styled brand of a cowboy with a bandana protecting his mouth.
Rustler Sam © Golden West School
The overall makeover does have the impression of a cowboy, however my first thought was The Shadow.
The Shadow © Condé Nast
Tumbleweeds © Tom Okay. Ryan