Benny Beaver
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| Benny Beaver | |
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| University | Oregon State University |
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| Conference | Pac-10 |
| Description | Anthropomorphic beaver |
| First seen | 1942 |
| Related mascot(s) | Bernice Beaver |
Benny Beaver is the official mascot of Oregon State University. The adoption of a beaver as the university's mascot is linked to Oregon's history as a territorial leader in America's early fur trade. The Oregon Territory was well known for its large populations of beaver and the region became a stronghold, in the early 1800s, for the Hudson's Bay Company's beaver trapping operations. Once Oregon acquired statehood in 1859, the beaver continued as the state's symbol and was later adopted as Oregon's official mammal in 1969.
In addition to the industrial association, the beaver is known as a dam builder and this trait fits naturally with one of the university's leading programs, engineering.[1]
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[edit] History
The university's yearbook staff was actually the first known organization on campus to adopt the beaver for a name and did so in 1915. The popularity of the yearbook's name eventually helped to solidify the beaver as the university's official mascot.[2]
The university's first documented use of a beaver as a mascot was found in a 1942 yearbook photo. In the photo, students are posing next to a statue of a beaver inscribed with the name "Benny Beaver."[3] Although this is the university's first documented use of a beaver mascot, there is considerable debate as to when the beaver was first used. Alumni from the early 1900s have claimed the school used the Beaver as a mascot as early as 1910. However, no known documentation exists.
Prior to the beaver, Oregon State's mascot was an individual known as John Richard Newton Bell (1893-1928). A longtime member of the university's board of regents, Bell became hugely popular among the students for his ritual of marching to the Marys River after each of Oregon State's Civil War (college football game) victories. He was said to have tossed his top hat into the water as a token of celebration. Earlier mascots include "Jimmie" the Coyote (1892-1893) and "Bulldog" (1906-1910). The beaver mascot's name, "Benny," was officially adopted in 1945.
The early Benny Beaver "cartoon" icon/logo (shown top, right) was created by, famous graphic illustrator and former Disney employee, Arthur C. Evans. As the art director for Angelus Pacific Company,[2] Evans submitted his design to OSU and it was approved for use in 1951. His logos were used at hundreds of other universities and high schools throughout the nation.
The first appearance of the beaver mascot, in costume, during an athletic event was on September 18, 1952 and made by Ken Austin.[4] Austin later founded Newberg, Oregon-based A-dec, the largest privately-held dental equipment manufacturer in North America. Austin is also a major Oregon State donor.[5]
Between the early 1980s and mid-1990s, Benny was often joined at sporting events by a co-mascot, known as "Bernice Beaver."
In 2001 the Benny Beaver costume changed to match the new logo, but was not well accepted by younger fans.[6] In 2005 the mascot costume was changed to a more family-friendly version. This is the version in use today (2007) (shown left). Benny wears #00 at football games and #6 at basketball games.
[edit] Current Design
The mascot logo has seen several alterations since its inception. It was last redesigned in 2000 by Morrow Creative Group[7] of Portland, Oregon. The new version (shown top, left) was officially adopted by the university in 2001 and often referred to by fans as the "Angry Beaver." The make-over came about, in part, due to several major alumni contributions to remodel and expand the university's football stadium (Reser Stadium).[citation needed]
[edit] Other universities and colleges with a beaver mascot
- Babson College (Wellesley, Massachusetts)
- Bemidji State University (Bemidji, Minnesota)
- Bluffton College (Bluffton, Ohio)
- Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, Iowa)
- California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California)
- Champlain College (Burlington, Vermont)
- City College of New York (New York, New York)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
- Minot State University (Minot, North Dakota)
- University of Maine at Farmington (Farmington, Maine)
[edit] References
- ^ Facts and Statistics - February 11, 2003. Oregon State University OSU College of Engineering (2003). Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
- ^ a b OSU Libraries - Chronological History. Oregon State University Library (2004). Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ OSU Sports History Minute - February 16, 2001. Oregon State University Beaver E-Clips (2001). Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
- ^ A History of Athletic Mascots at Oregon State University. Oregon State University OSU Alumni Association (2001). Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
- ^ Edmondston, George P.. Building a Better Mousetrap. OSU Alumni Association. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
- ^ Benny Beaver (Interim). Beaver Yearbook Collection. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ Morrow Creative Group Website. Morrow Creative Group Company Website (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
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