Graduation season is right around the corner, a time for students to reflect on their years on-campus and to say goodbye to student life. What do you get for the college grad who has it all? A Texas art print to hang next to a Texas college diploma may be just the thing.
A Fredericksburg artist who loved capturing wildlife, the late Charles Beckendorf lives on through his art in offices all across the Lone Star State, from Baylor Bears to Texas Longhorns and beyond. Here are a few pieces that bring to mind some of our favorite college mascots.
- “Texas Longhorns”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf One of Texas’ most popular mascots is the University of Texas at Austin’s longhorn, Bevo. UT’s original mascot was actually an American pit bull terrier called “Pig.” The switch to the Texas longhorn occurred in 1916, when law graduate Stephen Pickney came across “a steer whose fur was so orange-tinted that Pinckney knew he’d found his mascot.”
- “Black Bear”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf Another popular mascot is Baylor University’s bear, two of which they have on campus in Waco. The student body voted 1914 to make the bear its mascot, choosing it over the buffalo, antelope, eagle, or bookworm (thank goodness!) In 1974, the university opted to name their mascots “Judge,” followed by a surname in honor of their 1967-1971 live mascot.
- “Bobcat”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf Texas State University in San Marcos is home to the bobcat, Boko, a symbol of fierceness and courage. Serving TSU mascot since 1921, Boko has twice been named the USA National Champion mascot.
- “Roadrunner on Cactus”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf University of Texas at San Antonio is home to the roadrunners, Rowdy the Roadrunner in particular. In 1977, the roadrunner beat our armadillos and stars as the official mascot.
- “Javelina”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf Texas A&M at Kingsville’s mascot is the javelina. In 1925, the TAMUK student body chose this ferocious animal as its mascot, the only university or college in the world on record to do so.
- “Bald Eagle”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf Scrappy the eagle is University of North Texas’ mascot. The bald eagle, for its independence, strength and keen eye, was selected by the UNT student body in 1922.
- “Puma”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf The University of Houston cougars made mascot official in 1946 once the school became involved in intercollegiate sports. Known as “Shasta,” mascot has made appeared in both real-life and costumed mascot versions.
- “Great Horned Owl”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf Sammy the owl is Rice University in Houston’s mascot, which was officially adopted in 1912 and has also appeared in both live animal and costumed form. A real-life owl was kidnapped from the university in 1917 by rival Texas A&M students. A resulting coded telegram gave birth to the name “Sammy.”
- “Cardinal”
Artist: Charles Beckendorf University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio and Lamar University in Beaumont share the red cardinal as their mascot, known as “Red” and “Big Red” respectively. Charles Beckendorf paints many birds, the red cardinal being one of the most popular.
Do you love Charles Beckendorf’s beautiful prints as much as we do? You can find these prints and many others for sale on the Charles Beckendorf Gallery’s website, and be sure to visit the Beckendorf Gallery Facebook page as well!
Artist: Charles Beckendorf
One of Texas’ most popular mascots is the University of Texas at Austin’s longhorn, Bevo. UT’s original mascot was actually an American pit bull terrier called “Pig.” The switch to the Texas longhorn occurred in 1916, when law graduate Stephen Pickney came across “a steer whose fur was so orange-tinted that Pinckney knew he’d found his mascot.”
Another popular mascot is Baylor University’s bear, two of which they have on campus in Waco. The student body voted 1914 to make the bear its mascot, choosing it over the buffalo, antelope, eagle, or bookworm (thank goodness!) In 1974, the university opted to name their mascots “Judge,” followed by a surname in honor of their 1967-1971 live mascot.
Texas State University in San Marcos is home to the bobcat, Boko, a symbol of fierceness and courage. Serving TSU mascot since 1921, Boko has twice been named the USA National Champion mascot.
University of Texas at San Antonio is home to the roadrunners, Rowdy the Roadrunner in particular. In 1977, the roadrunner beat our armadillos and stars as the official mascot.
Texas A&M at Kingsville’s mascot is the javelina. In 1925, the TAMUK student body chose this ferocious animal as its mascot, the only university or college in the world on record to do so.
Scrappy the eagle is University of North Texas’ mascot. The bald eagle, for its independence, strength and keen eye, was selected by the UNT student body in 1922.
The University of Houston cougars made mascot official in 1946 once the school became involved in intercollegiate sports. Known as “Shasta,” mascot has made appeared in both real-life and costumed mascot versions.
Sammy the owl is Rice University in Houston’s mascot, which was officially adopted in 1912 and has also appeared in both live animal and costumed form. A real-life owl was kidnapped from the university in 1917 by rival Texas A&M students. A resulting coded telegram gave birth to the name “Sammy.”
University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio and Lamar University in Beaumont share the red cardinal as their mascot, known as “Red” and “Big Red” respectively. Charles Beckendorf paints many birds, the red cardinal being one of the most popular.
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