Hound Dogs and Hush Puppies

The story of how Hush Puppies shoes got their name and how a Basset hound became their mascot begins with an early American food from the south called hush puppies (or hushpuppies).

There are many stories about the origin of hush puppies, a deep-fried cornmeal ball. According to the oldest, they originated in Nouvell Orleans  (now New Orleans) around the 1720s and became popular throughout the south. One day, an African cook in Atlanta was frying up a batch when a nearby puppy began barking. To quiet the dog, she gave it a plateful of the fried dough and said "hush puppy." Soon, hunters would hush their hound dogs with the southern cornballs.

In 1958, James Gaylord Muir, the first sales manager of the now famous Hush Puppies shoes, went on a selling trip in the south and heard the story of the food's origin. Because "barking dogs" is another name for sore feet, he thought the name Hush Puppies would be perfect for their shoes - people could "quiet their barking dogs" with their shoes.

Axelrod: Flying A's Worried Mascot

Axelrod, a Basset Hound, was famous in the 1960s for his worried look.

Flying A was a major gasoline brand from the 1930s to the 1960s. The theme for their advertising was not to worry as they will take care of your car's needs, and in the 1960s Axelrod became the perfect mascot because of his naturally worried look. He appeared in print ads in the Saturday Evening Post and in television commercials during sports events by his A-shaped doghouse with sayings like, "When it comes to your car...oooh, do we worry!" In 1966, Phillips Petroleum Co. bought out Flying A and Axelrod retired.

Steverino: The First Lady Greyhound Bus Mascot

First there was Steverino and then there was Lady Greyhound who bought much attention to the Greyhound bus company around the 1960s.

The company first began in 1914 and adopted the Greyhound name in 1929. The name came about when one of the drivers saw the reflection of his bus in a store window, reminding him of a greyhound dog. The running dog logo came out at that time, and its mascot didn't appear until 1957.

The future Greyhound mascot was born a pure bred but because she was a high-strung, nervous female she was not destined for the race track. Instead, she was sold to the bus-line. The first Greyhound TV commercial appeared during the Steve Allen show and their mascot was dubbed Steverino (Greyhound was the first transportation company to sponsor shows on television.) The 10 pound puppy quickly became famous and ended up with over 500,000 members in her fan clubs. After Greyhound ended their sponshorship of the Steve Allen show in the early 1960s, Steverino (Stevo) was renamed Lady Greyhound to the public. This announcement was made during a Jack Benny show.

Lady Greyhound, who was insured for $300,000, continued to travel across the country. She would make appearances at charity events and help inaugurate new bus terminals by biting through a ribbon of dog biscuits. Fifteen hundred people showed up at Detroit's opening to see Lady Greyhound and get her pawtograph. The famous dog made an appearance at the White House, was a regular guest on TV shows and even posed with Miss Universe Beauty Pageant contestants. She was great with the public and knew to freeze into a pose whenever she saw a photographer.

When Lady Greyhound traveled, she mostly went by charter-jet that included her own personal seat with safety belts because Greyhound had a rule against dogs. However, when the bus was not being operated publicly, she could ride on it. Wherever she traveled, she was to have the best accommodations possible. In addition, she was to get two hours of exercise every day and work for no more than an hour at a time.

Steverino retired in 1966 and two other greyhounds portrayed her until the ad campaign ended in 1970. Lorraine D'Essen of Animal Talent Scouts, who trained and cared for Lady Greyhound, kept Stevo after she retired. About a year before her retirement, Stevo gave birth to a litter of nine puppies. All the puppies were given away on Linkletter's TV show People are Funny to Brownies and Cub Scouts.

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Honey Tree Evil Eye: Better Known as Spuds MacKenzie

We weren't suppose to know this, but the partying Spuds MacKenzie who liked his Bud Light was portrayed by a female dog named Honey Tree Evil Eye.

Honey Tree Evil Eye, a bull terrier, was born on October 7, 1983. Before she became famous as Budweiser's ultimate party animal, she was a show dog in Chicago. The unusually calm and photogenic dog caught the eyes of advertisers, and soon appeared on ads across college campuses. Her famous role didn't come until 1987.

A 23 year old art director, Jon Moore, created the Spuds MacKenzie mascot and campaign for Bud Light. The first TV ad appeared during Super Bowl XXI and was a huge hit. According to The New York Times, Bud Light sales increased by 20% between 1987 and 1988. The partying dog was soon on posters, t-shirts and other items, and the song Baby Got Back was written by Sir Mix-A-Lot to praise women who didn't look like the Spuds MacKenzie girls which he described as "little skinny chicks looking like stop signs, with big hair and skinny bodies."

Honey Tree Evil Eye's career as Budweiser's mascot didn't last long due to controversy. Republican Senator Strom Thurmond accused Anheuser Busch of glamorizing the use of alcohol and encouraging those who are under-aged to drink. Mother's Against Drunk Driving also campaigned against Spuds MacKenzie. Although the Federal Trade Commission found no evidence to support the allegations, Budweiser's ultimate party animal retired in 1989. Anheuser Busch felt that Spud's character had started to overshadow the product.

It was People magazine who revealed Spuds MacKenzie's gender in 1987. The truth was never supposed to be revealed.

Honey Tree Evil Eye died of renal failure on May 31, 1993.

Uga: Georgia's Bulldog

University of Georgia's famous mascot began over 60 years ago with a bulldog named Uga. His descendants and name continue the tradition today.

In 1956 Frank "Sonny" Seiler was a law student at the University of Georgia (UGA). He married that year and the couple was given a white English bulldog as a wedding gift. He took the dog to the first football game of the season and the head coach asked Seiler if his bulldog could be the school's mascot. Seiler agreed and a fellow student suggested naming the mascot Uga.

Uga (Hood's Ole Dan), the grandson of a bulldog that accompanied the Georgia football team to its Rose Bowl victory in 1943, was born on December 2, 1955. He was the University's mascot for ten years. According to Seiler, his wife made Uga's red jersey using a kid's t-shirt, and she had to make quite a few of them. "During the early games in Athens, especially the hot ones before he had a dog house, the large green hedges that surround Sanford Stadium afforded welcomed shade in the heat of battle. Unfortunately, the hedges constantly tore these jerseys and new ones had to be made."

Uga retired in 1966 and died peacefully on November 9, 1967 while sleeping in the sun in the Seiler's backyard in Savannah.

Since Uga I, nine Ugas followed - all descendants of Uga I and all owned by the Seiler family.

All Ugas who passed away are buried in marble vaults near the main entrance at the southwest corner of Sanford Stadium. Epitaphs to the dogs are inscribed in bronze, and before each home game, flowers and gifts are placed on their graves. The epitaph for Uga I is "DAMN GOOD DOG", the words the whole stand at the stadium shouted when his retirement was announced.

Jiggs: First USMC Mascot

During WWI, German reports called the attacking Marines teufel-hunden meaning devil-dogs. Soon afterward, an English bulldog wearing a Marine Corps helmet was depicted on a recruiting poster. A few years after WWI, Jiggs made history as the first unofficial mascot to the Marines.

The first dog to serve as the mascot to the United States Marine Corps was an English bulldog named King Bulwark. King, sired by a well known and famous dog named Rob Roy, was born on May 22, 1922. The pup, renamed Jiggs, was enlisted into the Corps on October 14, 1922 at a formal ceremony by Brigadier General Smedley Butler.

Private Jiggs, stationed at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia was quickly promoted to Corporal. Despite having been court-martialed several times for lack of proper manners, Jiggs was given the rank of Sergeant on New Year's Day in 1924 and Sergeant Major seven months later.

Jiggs was a pampered dog who liked living in the limelight. He attended football games to support his fellow Marines, and even starred in the 1926 movie Tell It To The Marines with Lon Chaney.

Jiggs passed away on January 9, 1927 - just four months shy of his fifth birthday. His satin-lined coffin laid in state at a hangar in Quantico, flanked by two Marine guards and surrounded by flowers from his many fans. He was mourned throughout the Corps and buried with full military honors.

The USMC's tradition of owning an English bulldog carries on to this day.

Shep: The Denver-Boulder Turnpike Dog

Shep became famous in history as a highway mascot who greeted motorists at the toll booths on the Denver-Boulder Turnpike.

In 1950, during the construction of the Boulder-Denver turnpike, a stray puppy wandered into the site where the workers would share bits of food with him. In 1952, when the turnpike opened to the motorists and the construction workers left, the timid dog began begging for food from the toll booth attendants. One cold night one of the attendant's working was able to coax the dog into his booth. The dog found a warm place to lie down and the attendant found company to better his night. Soon the dog, who was named Shep, became close friends with all the attendants.

Shep loved his new home and the motorists were thrilled to be greeted by the dog. In fact, drivers would pay a little extra to help buy dog food, give dog toys and treats, and even pull over to have their picture taken with Shep. It didn't take long for the Colorado Department of Transportation to make Shep the highway's unofficial mascot.

Despite all the love and attention Shep received, he still liked to roam off on his own at times but would always return. One day in 1958 he returned limping after he was mysteriously shot. Clyde Brunner, a Broomfield veterinarian, treated the dog for free and continued to donate his services for the rest of Shep's life.

In 1964, Shep was losing his sight and could barely get around. On August 3 of that year the men who loved and cared for him made the difficult decision to put Shep to sleep. The highway superintendent buried Shep next to the US 36 on-ramp. Two headstones were donated by residents, one with the inscription "Shep 1950-1964, Part Shepherd - Mostly Affection" and the other "Our Pal". Some suggested getting another toll booth dog but one attendant insisted "...nobody could take Shep's place...never".

The extra money the motorists paid, which was more than enough to feed and care for Shep, went towards the cost of the turnpike. In 1967, the turnpike was paid off, 13 years earlier than originally expected. In 2009, due to ongoing construction, Shep's grave was moved to Zang Spur Park, next to the Broomfield Depot Museum.

"He always wagged his tail at everyone who came by, and he was always happy," said Jane Spain, who helped lead the effort to move Shep's grave. "For everyone that went back and forth on the turnpike, he was their favorite thing."

Handsome Dan: Yale's Famous Mascot

This champion show dog was the first Handsome Dan of Yale's long line of Olde English Bulldog mascots.

Many believe Handsome Dan was the first bulldog to represent Yale in 1889 but according to Yale Alumni Magazine (Nov/Dec 2014) recent research shows Handsome Dan had a predecessor, an English bulldog named Harper. An article published in Yale Daily News (November 22, 1890) states "Harper the Champion English bulldog will be taken to Springfield today as a mascot to the Yale team." The first record of Handsome Dan as a mascot is mentioned in Forest and Stream (June 23, 1892) saying Dan would be "the Yale mascot this year in the place of the champion Harper."

Handsome Dan may not have been Yale's first mascot, but his popularity earned him a place of honor in Yale athletics history. Andrew Graves, a prominent athlete who attended Yale, was the owner of the first Handsome Dan. Some sources say he bought the bulldog from a blacksmith for $5 but Yale Alumni Magazine says that is probably not true because, according to The American Kennel Club Stud Book, Handsome Dan's parents were pedigreed dogs bred by a William North of New Haven. Not only was Handsome Dan Yale's beloved mascot, he was a champion show dog who won at least 30 first prize ribbons over his lifetime.

Handsome Dan followed Graves everywhere around campus, including sporting events, and a strong bond was quickly developed between the bulldog and students. In fact, it was said Dan would never associate with anyone but students. Handsome Dan was adopted by the students as the Yale mascot, and the tradition of a bulldog being led across the field before football and baseball games began. One newspaper reported "He was a big white bulldog, with one of the greatest faces a dog of that breed ever carried."

Handsome Dan's fame was described in The Philadelphia Press: "A favorite trick was to tell him to 'Speak to Harvard.' He would bark ferociously and work himself into physical contortions of rage never before dreamed of by a dog."

After Graves graduated, Dan stayed on campus with his master's brother. In 1896 Graves brought Dan to live with him in England, where Handsome Dan died a year later at the age of 10. His body was stuffed and is in a sealed glass case in one of the trophy rooms of Yale's Payne Whitney Gymnasium, where "he is the perpetual guardian of the treasures which attest to generations of Yale athletic glory." (Stanton Ford)

After the death of Handsome Dan, the editor of the Hartford Courant wrote an editorial that testifies to the dog's unforgettable personality: "In personal appearance he seemed like a cross between an alligator and a horned frog, and he was called handsome by the metaphysicians under the law of compensation. The title came to him; he never sought it. He was always taken to games in a leash, and the Harvard football team for years owed its continued existence to the fact that the rope held.… If he has gone to that heaven which some humane people think exists for animals, we venture the prediction that there is music just now in the bulldog corner."

There was no successor to Handsome Dan I until 1933. On November 15, 2016 The Yale University Athletics Department announced the arrival of its new mascot, Handsome Dan XVIII.

Sinbad: A Coast Guard Mascot Who Liked to Have Fun

Sinbad was quite a character who became famous in history as a mascot in the US Coast Guard. He liked to party, raise some hell and keep his crew on the USS Campbell smiling.

Sinbad was originally intended to be a gift for a sailor's girlfriend in 1937. She was unable to keep the dog so the sailor snuck him on board the USS Campbell that night. Sinbad stayed quiet during the night but by morning his barking made his presence known. The sailors bonded quickly with the happy-go-lucky pup and Sinbad became a member of the crew. He was officially enlisted, with a paw print signature on his enlistment papers. He had his own service record, Red Cross and service IDs, and his own bunk.

Sinbad served 11 years as the ship's mascot during peace and war time. During WWII the ship would patrol the Atlantic ocean and was even awarded in 1943 for battling six enemy submarines over a 12 hour period, sinking at least one of them. During one battle, the ship was damaged and all but essential personnel were ordered off the ship while it was towed to safety for repair. Sinbad was one of the few who stayed on board. The sailors believed that as long as Sinbad was on board, the USS Campbell was unsinkable.

Sinbad saw plenty of combat action and was considered a valuable member of his crew. Actually, he spent most of his time of said action below deck, usually on one of the sailor's bunk covering his ears with his paws to block out the noise from gunfire. But when things quieted down he would join the men, prancing and barking to help lift their spirits.

Sinbad received six campaign ribbons and five battle stars during his time of service. He was a capable sailor when he was on duty but while on liberty he liked to have fun with the men. He would hang out in bars and night clubs, drink beer and whiskey, and flirt with the ladies. A few weeks after being promoted from First Class to K9C (Chief Dog - equivalent to Chief Petty Officer), he lost his promotion when the Captain broke him for insubordination. The mischievous dog also did some time in the brig for fraternizing with local pups while in Palermo.

Eddie Lloyd, editor of the old Coast Guard magazine, noted "Sinbad is a salty sailor but he's not a good sailor. He'll never rate gold hash marks nor good conduct medals. He's been on report several times and he's raised hell in a number of ports. On a few occasions, he has embarrassed the United States Government by creating disturbances in foreign zones. Perhaps that's why Coast Guardsmen love Sinbad, he's as bad as the worst and as good as the best of us."

Probably hung over after a night of partying

Despite disciplinary actions and demotions, Sinbad received an honorable discharge in 1948 as a Chief Dog (which he later earned back). Sinbad and Sergeant Stubby, are the only two animals to be classified as non-commissioned officers by the US military prior to the enactment of regulations to prohibit such.

After his retirement from the US Coast Guard, Sinbad spent the remaining years of his life at Barnegat Coast Guard Station in New Jersey. He passed away on December 30, 1951. He was laid to rest beneath the station’s flagstaff.

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Nig: The Hoover Dam Mascot

Nig became famous in history as the mascot to the crew of Six Companies who built the Hoover Dam. The work was trying and risky, and the beloved dog who accompanied the men to work everyday helped make their lives a little easier.

In 1932 a Labrador mix puppy was born in the crawlspace beneath a building in Boulder City, the city that housed the men who built the Hoover Dam. The stray pup had free run of the city and quickly became well-liked by all. He was known as "nobody's dog and everybody's dog." One day a worker decided to take the puppy to the work site where he became a welcome addition to the workforce. The men called the dog Nig.

Nig joined the workers on the trip to the dam in the mornings and would ride back with them at the end of the work day. He became their mascot and could get around the canyon with much ease as he made his rounds to greet the workers. He would climb ladders, follow the men into the tunnels, and hop on the wooden platforms that lowered the men and equipment down into the canyon.

One day Nig wanted to return to the city earlier than usual and ended up getting a ride back with Frank Crowe, the chief engineer of the Hoover Dam. Even the big boss must have loved the dam's mascot a lot because the dog was seen sitting in the front passenger seat of the fancy car while the man's wife rode in the back.

The men would share their food with Nig and sometimes the food would be sweets. Once Nig ate so many candy bars he became ill. He was treated by the town's doctor and later an ad was placed in the local newspaper saying "I love candy but it makes me sick. It is also bad for my coat. Please don't feed me any more. Your friend, Nig". When Nig recovered, the men contributed money to improve the dog's diet. The city's mess hall prepared his meals and even packed a lunch for him in a special container to take to the dam. Nig would carry the container in his mouth when he boarded the transport truck to go to the dam, place the container alongside the worker's lunch pails when he got there, and would eat with the crew when the lunch whistle blew.

Nig was definitely part of the crew and was loved by all, except for one angry man. One day Nig was napping on a walkway when the mean worker ordered him to move out of his way. When Nig refused, the worker kicked him. Other workers saw this cruel act towards their friend and quickly pounced on the man. A ranger pulled the men off of him, and after learning why they were beating on him, the ranger escorted the man to the edge of town and told him never to come back.

After the dam was complete, Nig continued to make his rounds there. On February 21, 1941, an unseasonably hot day, Nig decided to take a nap in a spot of shade under a truck. When the driver of the truck returned, he failed to notice the sleeping dog. Nig died instantly when the truck ran over him. People were heartbroken when the news of the accident reached town. It was said to have been the saddest afternoon Boulder City had ever experienced. "Rough, tough rock-hard men wept openly and unashamed," a newspaper wrote.

Nig was buried in a concrete crypt at the edge of the cliff overlooking the dam so he could continue his oversight of the daily activities at the dam. The men who worked alongside Nig contributed what little money they had to buy a plaque memorializing the dog that meant so much to them.

In the late 1970s, a visitor to the dam felt the inscription on the plaque "NIG" was racist and he campaigned to have the plaque removed. The issue hit the national press and the plaque was later taken down. Many of the Boulder City and area residents, especially those who knew the dog, rose in protest to reinstate the plaque. A new plaque was placed that identifies Nig as the dam's mascot but does not mention his name.

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