Louisiana Tech Mascot Dies of Heat Stroke

Worried and anxious Louisiana Tech University students, faculty and supporters learned Wednesday the college’s beloved bulldog mascot Tech XX was dead – and had been for days.

 The 4-year-old English bulldog apparently died of heat stroke on Sunday after an animal clinic worker left him outside too long, said Patrick Sexton, a Ruston veterinarian and owner of Sexton Animal Health Center.

The worker covered up the death – allowing dozens to search for the dog and post rewards for Tech XX’s return – until he finally told Sexton Wednesday morning, Sexton said.

 Dave Guerin, spokesman for the university, said the Bulldog nation will grieve the loss of the dog and pray for the Sexton family who cared for him.

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Semper Fido

1925. "Sgt. Jiggs." The Marine Corps mascot in Washington, D.C., with an actual Marine. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. The USMC got the nickname "Devil Dogs" from the Germans in World War I. The term "Devil Dog" in German is a legendary boogeyman from hell in German folklore. When they saw the fierceness with which the Marines fought in France, the Germans gave the USMC this name out of fear and respect. The Corps loved it and adopted the Bulldog as their mascot. The name persists today even though it is not widely known among the general public. There are some excellent history references on this subject at the Marine Museum at the USMC Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina. Source

Remember Leo the Lion?

Leo the Lion is the mascot for the Hollywood film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and one of its predecessors, Goldwyn Pictures, featured in the studio's production logo. Slats was the first lion used for the newly-formed MGM studio. He was born at Dublin Zoo, Ireland on March 20, 1919. The photo above is Slats the Lion being filmed for his cinematic debut as the MGM Logo, c. 1924. Slats was used on all black-and-white MGM films between 1924 and 1928. Slats was trained to growl rather than roar (although in the logo he did nothing but look around), and for the next couple of years, the lion would tour with MGM promoters to signify the studio's launch. Slats died in 1936. His skin is now on display at the McPherson Museum, in Kansas. The original logo was designed by Howard Dietz and used by the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation studio from 1916 to 1924. PHOTO 1: via The Daily What PHOTO 2: Wikipedia