• Overview & History
• Chapters & Colonies
• Acacia News
• Joining Acacia
• Human Service
• Notable Acacians
• Award Winners
• Council & Staff
• Online Resources
• Contact Us

A Century of Brotherhood • Moments in Acacia History • More Moments in Acacia History

Mascot Mania

The first mascot listed in the Journal of Acacia was "Bunch," an English bulldog at the Purdue Chapter of Acacia. This foreshadowed the fact that Acacians continued to pick man's best friend over any other animal, with bulldogs being the most popular breed. Other breeds favored included Irish setters, Airedales, Greyhounds, Great Danes, Boxers, Collies, Terriers, Spaniels, Chows, St. Bernards, German Shepherds, Huskies, Dalmatians, Dachshunds, one Scotty/French Poodle mix, and a mess of mutts.

The most common name — found at least three times — is "Pythagoras," sometimes shortened to "Thag." Besides that, Acacians can claim both a "Duchess" and a "Duke," as well as a "Baron," "Squire," and "Caesar." Some dogs were a bit "Dusty," "Smokey," "Rowdy," and "Rusty."

For protection, Acacia had a "Tank," a "Bomber," and a "Doc" to fix up the wounded. Both "Isis" and "Thor" may have had a god complex, while "Pete," "Sam," "Corky," "Amos," and "Ricky" are just the normal guys next door.

You could have said "Hi" to a "Pal" or spent a "Penny" on a "Sprig" (of Acacia in bloom?). For variety there were "Karloo," "Lanta," "Kee-la," and "Oomik." And you don't have to be a "Sherlock" to throw some "Pepper" on an "Eightball" but it helps if you're crazy like "Ophelia."

The slyest name is perhaps the tongue-in-cheek "Da Mit Von Acacia," and a good candidate for the most infamous name for a cur would have to be "Pledge."

As for the more unexpected side of mascots, the most common animal outside of canines is a tie between alligators and felines. Alligators were reported by both Cornell in 1939, and Rensselaer in 1954. Washington Chapter had a Persian cat named "Clarence" in 1956, and Washington State had twin purebred Siamese kittens in 1961.

One-shot mascots include "Goof," a black bear cub that the California Chapter owned in 1921 (according to the Journal they had to part with the bear after it mauled a car); "Gwendolyn" a deer kept by the Texas Chapter in 1922; "Poor Lil" a rabbit at the George Washington Chapter in 1954, and a turtle named "Mustard" at the Texas Chapter in 1948.

Despite all of these fine creatures, only one chapter earns the unofficial title of Best Mascot and that would be Purdue, who came up with the apt moniker "B.O. Plenty" for their pet skunk in 1945.