Posted 10:36 am Monday, January 30, 2012
6-Year TJC Mascot Duke Recalled Fondly
By EMILY GUEVARA
Staff Writer
Reveille at Texas A&M University might be the most well-known canine mascot in the state, but Tyler Junior College had its own proud pooch about 50 years ago.
Staff Writer
Reveille at Texas A&M University might be the most well-known canine mascot in the state, but Tyler Junior College had its own proud pooch about 50 years ago.
Duke, a boxer mix, wandered onto the campus in January 1956 and quickly won the hearts of students and staff members in the college community, according to information at the college's Black and Gold Exhibit in the Tyler Museum of Art.
Duke lived as part of the TJC campus from 1956 to 1962. During that time faculty and staff members made sure he got his vaccinations and others provided food and water for him daily, according to the exhibit information.
Duke lived as part of the TJC campus from 1956 to 1962. During that time faculty and staff members made sure he got his vaccinations and others provided food and water for him daily, according to the exhibit information.
Soon the dog had the run of the place walking around Jenkins Hall and attending football games at Rose Stadium.
The “click, click, click” of his toenails tapping the floor as he came down the hall was something to which students grew accustomed, said Jim Yancy, a former TJC student and employee.
The “click, click, click” of his toenails tapping the floor as he came down the hall was something to which students grew accustomed, said Jim Yancy, a former TJC student and employee.
“Nobody stopped him,” Yancy said. “Nobody put any restrictions (on him). Nobody seemed upset that there was a dog.”
In those days, Jenkins Hall was the primary academic building on campus. There was no air conditioning at the time so in the milder or hotter days, people opened the windows and doors to allow for greater air flow, Yancy said.
In those days, Jenkins Hall was the primary academic building on campus. There was no air conditioning at the time so in the milder or hotter days, people opened the windows and doors to allow for greater air flow, Yancy said.
“So Duke would just sort of wander up and down the halls and he would just wander into a classroom while the class was in session and plop down somewhere and go to sleep and he was totally welcome,” said Yancy, 70, who retired from TJC after 42 years.
As a TJC student from 1959 through 1961, Yancy said Duke was just a part of campus life. He couldn't recall anybody officially telling the students about the dog. He assumes they just sort of asked about it and people let them know he was part of the campus.
“I remember one day in an English class, he came in the room and the teacher acknowledged him,” Yancy said. “(She) said, ‘Hello Duke. Come on in.'”
Duke proceeded to walk up to the desk, lie down and go to sleep. Yancy said sometimes he would sleep for a while. Other times, he would just lie down for a bit, get up and go somewhere else.
“He was just sort of the fixture of the college,” Yancy said.
James Barnes, a TJC instructor at the time, said Duke was a good dog who made himself at home on the campus most of the day. He slept a lot and sometimes when it was warmer, he would lie down in the quadrangle behind Jenkins Hall, Barnes said.
“He never as far as I know never got involved in any unpleasant activities, like fighting or anything like that,” said Barnes, 82, who retired from TJC in 2005 after 50 years of service.
Duke played a role during athletic events as well. He attended football games at Rose Stadium.
Yancy wasn't quite certain of the memory, but thought that Duke ran up and down the sidelines during the games and barked when the crowd cheered.
The story is that he was struck by a car and killed while chasing a female dog across Fifth Street on Feb. 7, 1962, according to the exhibit information. Students took up a collection to have a marker made for his grave behind Jenkins Hall.
A yearbook picture shows students gathered for the formal burial service, which included a pinewood coffin and funeral flower arrangements.
When the courtyard area behind Jenkins Hall was renovated, an anonymous donor paid for a new marker that sits there today.
It is identical in word and design to the original, just a different color. Both have a rendering of a boxer's head and read, “Duke, friend and mascot of Tyler Jr. College. Jan. 4, 1956 - Feb. 7, 1962.”
As a TJC student from 1959 through 1961, Yancy said Duke was just a part of campus life. He couldn't recall anybody officially telling the students about the dog. He assumes they just sort of asked about it and people let them know he was part of the campus.
“I remember one day in an English class, he came in the room and the teacher acknowledged him,” Yancy said. “(She) said, ‘Hello Duke. Come on in.'”
Duke proceeded to walk up to the desk, lie down and go to sleep. Yancy said sometimes he would sleep for a while. Other times, he would just lie down for a bit, get up and go somewhere else.
“He was just sort of the fixture of the college,” Yancy said.
James Barnes, a TJC instructor at the time, said Duke was a good dog who made himself at home on the campus most of the day. He slept a lot and sometimes when it was warmer, he would lie down in the quadrangle behind Jenkins Hall, Barnes said.
“He never as far as I know never got involved in any unpleasant activities, like fighting or anything like that,” said Barnes, 82, who retired from TJC in 2005 after 50 years of service.
Duke played a role during athletic events as well. He attended football games at Rose Stadium.
Yancy wasn't quite certain of the memory, but thought that Duke ran up and down the sidelines during the games and barked when the crowd cheered.
The story is that he was struck by a car and killed while chasing a female dog across Fifth Street on Feb. 7, 1962, according to the exhibit information. Students took up a collection to have a marker made for his grave behind Jenkins Hall.
A yearbook picture shows students gathered for the formal burial service, which included a pinewood coffin and funeral flower arrangements.
When the courtyard area behind Jenkins Hall was renovated, an anonymous donor paid for a new marker that sits there today.
It is identical in word and design to the original, just a different color. Both have a rendering of a boxer's head and read, “Duke, friend and mascot of Tyler Jr. College. Jan. 4, 1956 - Feb. 7, 1962.”
