We have received notes and heard various comments regarding the new Bearcat logo being used on shirts worn by school employees. Here is Dr. Mohundro's statement regarding the new Bearcat.

To the Free Press:

The Bearcat in question. This is the embroidered image of a Bearcat currently in use on school shirts.

There is some degree of concern coming from numerous individuals regarding the new “logo” that is being utilized by the school district. Let me give you some background on what has and is occurring. In working with companies to secure a “bearcat” for various uses, I found out that most companies do not have a stock “bearcat” to be used. In looking at them I saw a variety of things from tigers to wildcats, but saw nothing that was consistent.

I began looking at the various items that I saw people wearing in the district, and saw that there was not a standard “bearcat” that everyone was using. I saw several variations on the “bearcat” but nothing consistent that said, “this is THE DeLeon Bearcat”.

Over the summer, I knew that clothing items would be ordered for various areas of the district to be used by different departments, specifically the administration and the support staff. I then went to the web and started searching far and wide for a “bearcat” to be used. There are not many out on the web, but I found one that was being used by a neighboring school that also are the “bearcats”; two versions, one front view and one side view, that looked pretty ferocious.

In trying to get things ordered, I worked with a local company and told him to do a Google search for these. When he did it, he brought back a “bearcat” that looked more liked a wildcat, so I sent him the two I had found. He worked up the side view first and showed it to me. I thought it looked fine and approved it for use.

While there was some discussion on the fact that this was a side view and not a front view, there was never any question raised that it did look not like a “bearcat”.

Now to the meat of the matter. For those individuals that do not like the new “bearcat” they do not have to use it. It is not being mandated or required that it be used by anyone from this day forward. For those that do like it, they can use it. It simply becomes one of the “bearcats” in the library that can be utilized.

The "Official" Bearcat. This representation is now a part of the formal seal of the DeLeon Independent School District. It is a fierce creature with a bear's round face, but having many feline characteristics as well. The Latin inscription reads something to the effect of "nothing without great effort".

As far as the official symbol of the district, the district seal that originated on the front of high school annual in 1946 will be utilized as the official symbol. This seal, which does include a front facing “bearcat”, is on the letterhead and business cards that are used by my office. The only reason that I did not use it for clothing items is that it would not digitize properly and would not be recognizable on clothing.

I fully understand that our school and community are firmly built on tradition; it was in no way intended to end a tradition by changing a logo. Tradition is the cornerstone on which communities are built; it is my desire to build on the traditions that have been established since 1893 when the DeLeon schools were established.

For the sake and betterment of our community let us continue to find ways in which to improve our schools and the quality of education afforded the children of this district.

Striving to serve our community,

Randy Mohundro

Superintendent De Leon I.S.D.

Jerry’s response:

I like the side-facing Bearcat, however, I respect the fact that others’ opinions may differ.

The controversy prompted me to continue work on a project I started a bit earlier, which was to make a compilation of the various images that have been used to represent our teams' namesake.

The First  DeLeon Bearcat? This may have been the very first representation of a DeLeon Bearcat. It was taken from the cover of the 1924 DeLeonian. Red mouthparts contrast with dark fur and white eyes and four stubby fangs. It sets the pattern for Bearcat images as primarily feline in nature. The artist is unknown.

This is just one of the many I found.  A comprehensive collection of the various DeLeon Bearcat images is in this week's printed paper.

The pictorial covers a lot of territory, nevertheless. I hope it demonstrates just how many different Bearcats have been used throughout our school’s history.

I started out with my collection of DeLeonians and included a few other local sources. Not every Bearcat image discovered during the research of the DeLeonians has been used. Some were apparently duplicates and others difficult to reproduce legibly.

One thing is for certain. There are many who have taken their try at illustrating what is an essentially an imaginary creature, a few obscure animals on other continents not withstanding.

And, just like Texas weather, if you don't like the Bearcat in use now, it's sure to change before too long.

What comes next? No one knows, of course. The mythical creature leaves a lot of room for its illustrators to interpret how they think the Bearcat should appear.

In the meantime, we are seeking to fill the gaps of our DeLeonian collection. Cash prices are offered for the missing years: 1946, 1941, 1940, 1935, 1934, 1933, 1932, 1931, 1928, 1927 and 1923. Call 893-6868 or come by our offices.