Little Dipper - Tennessee's first mascot, an English Cocker Spaniel??? Need help on this one.

#26
#26
VOLINVONORE said:
Great story. I saw some games in 1947, but I don’t remember the mascof. I was nine at the time so I guess I was more interested in the game.
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Interesting, my first games was in 1965. Be interesting to know which VN member has the earliest game
 
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#27
#27
DaveSchwind said:
Bill - go for it! Thanks!

I'm surprised there aren't more photos on his Find a Grave memorial (if I had more time, I'd go through all of the memorials for these fellows and update them with photos...but alas...someday...)
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Done.! Many thanks for all that you posted. Absolutely great stuff.
 
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#28
#28
WillisWG said:
Interesting, my first games was in 1965. Be interesting to know which VN member has the earliest game
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Mine was in ‘65 too. With my Dad and brother. Army. First time they ran through the T. I have no recollection of that, but I was there.
 
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#29
#29
I found a record of Wilma S. Fowler as a Lt. (jg) on the USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) sailing from Hampton Roads/Norfolk in late-1943 to early-1944:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewe...tart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=37839240

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewe...tart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=37841161

I found these when I first saw this thread yesterday and wondered if it might be him. You figure a guy with the name Wilma would be the sort of dude who preferred to go by just his initials.
 
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#30
#30
Hacksaw said:
I found a record of Wilma S. Fowler as a Lt. (jg) on the USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) sailing from Hampton Roads/Norfolk in late-1943 to early-1944:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewe...tart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=37839240

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewe...tart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=37841161

I found these when I first saw this thread yesterday and wondered if it might be him. You figure a guy with the name Wilma would be the sort of dude who preferred to go by just his initials.
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That's him. I see where he was issued 2 delayed birth certificates, first one has Wilma S. Fowler; the second has W. S. Fowler. His father was a William Sim Fowler. I am thinking Monk's first dbc is just an error.
 
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#31
#31
Wow, this is so awesome. Stories like this are pieces of history that are slipping away and disappearing because they just weren't written up. Thanks Dave for your hard work (and pleasure) in doing this must deserved research. My dad was in WWII and stories like these are special to me. We as a family loved cockers too and had several. Thanks friend!
 
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#32
#32
ptcarter said:
This is one of those stories that has many sketchy details. Maybe some of you can fill in the blanks. Here's what I know & how I learned it.

A friend of mine from UT school days wholesales building products in the Memphis area. His territory is also Mississippi. One day, he was in Columbus MS, and was talking to a cabinet maker from West Point MS. The subject of UT came up and the cabinet maker told him of how he was in the process of renovating an antebellum home in Columbus. There was an old graveyard in the back, and during a break in his work, he took a stroll through the graveyard. He came across the stone below.

View attachment 391786

When the cabinet maker inquired on the story, not much is known, but he did learn this. Apparently the owner of the dog was a good football player and Neyland wanted him on the team. It was just after WWII and this player drove to Knoxville with his dog. Neyland supposedly said "You can't have that dog up here with you", and the player told him - "Look, I had this dog in my plane during the war on all my missions. If he can't come to Knoxville, I won't come". Neyland said " Look's like we have a mascot".

I have no idea who this player was. So someone help me if you know anything. Also, I think Smoky started as mascot around '57, but not sure there.

Help me fill in the blanks. Interesting story, agree??
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Really nice story here. . .you should submit a link of this thread to the Beacon. Submit News | utdailybeacon.com. And/or email it to John Adams, John.Adams@knoxnews.com
 
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#35
#35
Probably_in_Class said:
This thread is orders of magnitude better than reading all the whining about QBs. Thanks @ptcarter
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When my buddy texted me that picture of the stone, I had no idea where this would go. I have shared the thread with him. It think you have to join to see pictures, and I hope he does. Really he's the one to thank. I just wanted to plant the seed and see if it grew, and by golly, it took off like Jack's beanstalk. Thanks go to those pointing the way and MUCH thanks to Dave Swind for really giving some wonderful details here. VolNation is a great place. Freak deserves some credit for providing this forum - our football team may not be in the top 10, but this forum is number 1 on the net and for following all things UT.
 
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