June 6, 2005

CANYON, Texas--West Texas A&M University wasted no time in obtaining a replacement--make that replacements--for its buffalo mascot that died unexpectedly in May.

The University acquired two new buffalo mascot trainees Wednesday, June 1, a male and a female, both 6-months of age. The half-siblings were donated to the University by Jack and Liz Longbotham of Abilene and have been nicknamed Jack and Liz after the donors.

The newcomers officially are named Thunder VIII (Jack) and Thunder IX (Liz) following a tradition dating back to the 1970s, when the original Thunder came to campus.

The University acquired its first mascot, Charlie, from legendary cattleman Charles C. Goodnight in 1922, but after his death in 1935, the campus went without a full-time mascot for more than 35 years.

Thunder VII was discovered dead in his pen at about 6 a.m. May 30 by University police. Nicknamed Charlie Jr. and called C.J., the yearling calf died from internal injuries caused by a small piece of metal wire that he ingested, an autopsy found.

Both new buffaloes will be trained for mascot duties by their official WTAMU handlers, the Herdsmen, and there may be occasions when they represent the University at events in unison.

"We are indebted to the Longbothams for their generous donation of two buffalo calves," Shawn Burns, Herdsmen adviser and University police chief said. "Our main goal right now is to have these animals trained in time for football season, particularly Homecoming."

No tradition at West Texas A&M is more inspiring than when the Herdsmen lead the buffalo at a full gallop across the field after the Buffs' football team scores.

Jack and Liz were born in captivity on the Longbotham's ranch in Zephyr and are accustomed to humans, making them easier to train, Burns said. And since the calves have not yet been weaned, the Herdsmen will bottle-feed the duo throughout the summer.

"Because they were born in captivity and since we'll be bottle-feeding them, it will definitely make it easier to develop a relationship with them," Burns said.

Because of what befell C.J., Burns said the Herdsmen will make magnetic sweeps of the buffalo pens more often, and from now on they will order only feed bailed in twine.

"What happened to C.J. is a tragedy and, although it is not totally uncommon in livestock, it is the first time in the 28-year history of the Herdsmen that a mascot has been injured or killed," Burns said.

"That being said, we still plan to do everything we can--realistically and financially--so that it doesn't happen again."

The University actually purchased two buffaloes in 1922 from the Goodnight's T-Anchor Ranch. They were appropriately named after the ranching couple--Charlie and Mary Ann--but only Charlie spent time in the mascot spotlight.

Following Charlie's 1935 death, West Texas A&M went without a full-time mascot until Thunder (called Lollipop) was purchased in 1977, the year the Herdsman organization was founded. Thunder II (Buford), Thunder III (Max), Thunder IV (B.J., the offspring of Buford and Lollipop) and Thunder V (Ladee, pronounced LAY dee) continued the tradition. In 1996, the University acquired Thunder VI (Sadee, pronounced SAY dee), who was retired in 2004 to make way for C.J.

Now the torch is being passed to Jack and Liz.

From the WTAMU Communications Office