Judge and Bruiser (mascots)
Encyclopedia
Judge and Bruiser are the mascots of Baylor University
in Waco, Texas
. Judge is the name of the live mascots, North American black bear
, and Bruiser is the anthropomorphized bear mascot.
, frog
s, buffalo
and ferret
s, but Bears was selected. The first live bear, named Ted, was donated by local businessman Herbert E. Mayr who won him in a poker game from the 107th Engineers at nearby Camp MacArthur in 1917. He premiered at the football game against Texas A&M
. There has been a bear on campus ever since.
, the school's founder. The current bears are Judge Joy Reynolds, named for the wife of former president Herbert H. Reynolds
, and Judge Sue "Lady" Sloan, named for the wife of former president Robert B. Sloan
.
Baylor Chamber is responsible for the all aspects of the program including care, facility upkeep and training.
mascot which wears a green shirt and gold shorts.
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
. Judge is the name of the live mascots, North American black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, and Bruiser is the anthropomorphized bear mascot.
Judge
The tradition of bears being the mascots of Baylor goes back to 1914, when Baylor president Samuel Palmer Brooks sponsored a competition to find a mascot for the athletics teams, which had been playing since the 1890s. There were over two dozen options given, including antelopeAntelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
, frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s, buffalo
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
and ferret
Ferret
The ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
s, but Bears was selected. The first live bear, named Ted, was donated by local businessman Herbert E. Mayr who won him in a poker game from the 107th Engineers at nearby Camp MacArthur in 1917. He premiered at the football game against Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
. There has been a bear on campus ever since.
Naming
In 1974, the student body voted to give all future bears the first name of "Judge" followed by a surname to differentiate between them. "Judge" was chosen to honor Judge Robert Emmett Bledsoe BaylorRobert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor
Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor was a Kentucky native who later moved to Alabama and then Texas. Baylor was also the nephew of Kentucky politician Jesse Bledsoe....
, the school's founder. The current bears are Judge Joy Reynolds, named for the wife of former president Herbert H. Reynolds
Herbert H. Reynolds
Herbert Hal Reynolds was the President of Baylor University from 1981 to 1995.-Biography:Herbert H. Reynolds was born March 20, 1930, in Frankston, Texas. He graduated from Trinity University in 1952. From 1952 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Air Force and was an advisor for the Japanese Air Self...
, and Judge Sue "Lady" Sloan, named for the wife of former president Robert B. Sloan
Robert B. Sloan
Robert Bryan Sloan, Jr. is an American academic and theologian, currently serving as president of Houston Baptist University.-Education and background:...
.
Baylor Chamber is responsible for the all aspects of the program including care, facility upkeep and training.
Inflatable version
There is also another "Judge" which occasionally appears, a balloon suitInflatable costume
An inflatable costume or air-inflated costume is a costume that is inflated around the wearer by means of a battery-powered blower that sucks air into the costume. These costumes usually stand 9-10 feet tall when inflated....
mascot which wears a green shirt and gold shorts.