 "Photo: Archive Photo")
 "Photo: Renee Greer")
Like his legacy, Willie the Ram remains young at heart. Through the decades, Willie has transformed into an exceptional mascot. He changed his name, became a father and even altered his appearance. Yet, Willie remains the most honored and vivacious Ram at Texas Wesleyan.
His journey began in 1935, when a new live mascot was chosen to lead the Rams to victory. The university’s mascot, The Rammer, a ram of noble bearing, was born.
The male sheep, the Rammer, was presented to the school by the sophomore class president Chuck Herring on the evening of Oct. 2, 1935.
Not satisfied with his figure in 1975, then two-legged Willie dressed in a muscle-enhancing body suit and even changed the size of his head. “Having a live mascot again would be a good symbol for the college and something that would encourage support for Wesleyan athletics as well as other activities,” said Class President of 1979, Jon Fleming.
Regretting the alteration to his appearance, Willie decided to return to the outdoors after 14 years of being locked in the storage closet at night. Back on four legs, Willie lived like royalty in his own blue and gold trailer donated by the Ram Club.
Impressive, big-horned Willie wanted to show off his Texas Wesleyan pride and rode in the 1979 Stock Show Parade in downtown Fort Worth.
The Ramrods, a spirit group begun by University President Jerry Bawcom in 1979, cared for Willie and fed him his daily ration of oats and alfalfa. Willie made appearances at the basketball and baseball games while the Ramrods cleaned up after him.
Confident and popular, Willie attracted himself a mate, Wilma. Willie and Wilma lived happily in a pen on the south side of campus.
Willie and Wilma’s keepers, Don Wilhelm and Scott Watkins, noticed Wilma was fluctuating between gaining weight and then losing that weight, but assumed it was just the reflection of any changing college student. However, Wilma was pregnant. A new addition to the Ram family came Halloween night in 1984. The proud parents named their first ewe (female sheep), Winnie.
Current Texas Wesleyan University Archivist, Louis Sherwood, was a student at Wesleyan at the time and recalls the pen next to Stella Russell Hall where he could go visit Willie, Wilma and Winnie. “It was neat to have a live mascot,” he said. “It put us on par with big schools, like the University of Texas, that all had live mascots. I enjoyed being able to stop by and see them.”
Tragically, Winnie died that summer, but the Ram family managed to stay strong. In June 1985, Wilma gave birth to their second ewe, Wesley-Anne.
While Wilma was busy caring for her young, 250-pound Willie went to work with the Ramrods who chauffeured him to sporting events on campus. According to Sherwood, Willie’s physical changes continued. “After he became a widower in the late 80s, he wandered for a few years,” he said.
Despite the family tragedy, Willie was to come back stronger and more motivated than ever before. Coming to terms with reality, he wanted to keep up with modernization and requested to return indoors and walk on two legs again. The new Willie was specially designed in 2007 and finally came to life in 2008 with a new attitude. Willie wanted to look more fierce, but not too scary for small children’s sake.
“Willie is a link for all past, present and future Wesleyan students,” said current SGA President Heath Scott. “His legacy unites everyone and has been the foundation of school spirit for decades. Willie stands for everything Texas Wesleyan stands for: tradition, pride and spirit.”
Always representing Wesleyan, Willie has seen both personal and physical development in different forms. Originally, the old Willie was baggy and smiley. Today’s Willie is made from a special fiber and foam material, adding muscle to his furry appearance. The head has an electric fan and cooling packets that rest on the chest and back, a key to keeping Willie energetic at athletic events.
Transforming from The Rammer to Willie the Ram, Texas Wesleyan’s mascot has prevailed in the last 70-plus years with style and grace. “Willie is a true symbol of Wesleyan character,” said Cheerleading Coach Carolyn Ikens-Owen.
Willie appears at all home basketball games, various athletic events and any campus event when requested.
Be the first to comment on this article!