Herky the Hawk

. Herky is a student dressed in black and gold, including wings made out of fabric, with a headpiece shaped like a hawk's head. Herky was first drawn as a cartoon in 1948, and was first portrayed at a football game in 1959. Periodically, Herky's wardrobe and overall design have been updated. There are currently two different styles of Herky costumes. The version used at football games and related events features Herky wearing a Hawkeye football helmet. The version used at basketball games and other events features Herky with different facial features and no helmet.

Other important figures to the University of Iowa are the tiger hawk symbol, a logo designed during Hayden Fry's tenure as coach of the Iowa football team, and the Golden Girl and Drum Major which perform with the University of Iowa marching band and during football games.

History

Hawkeyes

The University borrowed its athletic nickname from the state of Iowa (also known as the Hawkeye State) many years ago. The state of Iowa acquired the nickname, chiefly through the efforts of Judge David Rorer of Burlington and James G. Edwards of Fort Madison.

Burlington had been established in 1833 after the Black Hawk War of 1832. Mr. Edwards proposed the nickname "Hawk-eyes" in 1838 to "...rescue from oblivion a memento, at least of the name of the old chief," Black Hawk. Edwards, editor of the Fort Madison Patriot, moved his newspaper to Burlington in 1843 and renamed it the Burlington Hawkeye in tribute to his friend Chief Black Hawk.

The two men continued their campaign to popularize the name and were rewarded when territorial officials gave it their formal approval.

Birth of Herky

In 1948, journalism instructor Richard Spencer III drew a caricature of a hawk for Frank Havlicek, business director for the university's athletic department, who was looking for a symbol to represent the athletic teams. The university liked the drawing and adapted it, but left the naming of the bird to the fans through a statewide contest. John Franklin, a Belle Plaine alumnus, suggested the name Herky as a reference to Hercules. Spencer continued to draw Herky playing a variety of sports and doing other activities inside and outside of the university. During the Korean War, Herky donned a military uniform and became the mascot of the 124th Fighter Squadron.

Herky takes the field

Herky first appeared as a costumed mascot during a football game in 1959. Herky's appearances at games were tumultuous, including pranks pulled on other mascots and hazardous stunts, leading to university officials to decide to put an end to the costumed version of Herky. However, Larry Herb, a transfer student, had a desire to portray Herky, and convinced administrators to give him a chance. It was Herb's enthusiasm that also led to a fiberglass headpiece being manufactured and other changes being made to the costume. When Herb, a member of Delta Tau Delta, left the university, he handed the duties of being Herky off to one of his fraternity brothers. This led to a longstanding tradition of only Delts being inside Herky's costume. However, in 1999 the Delts lost their charter, and since that time the university has held open tryouts for prospective Herkys.

Herky today

. Herky is also involved in occasional gimmicks, such as the Alumni Herky with a white beard who appears alongside the normal Herky at the annual homecoming game.

As part of the 75th anniversary of historic Kinnick Stadium, the University of Iowa athletic department and Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with the cities of Iowa City, Coralville and University Heights to organize "Herky on Parade." 90 different statues of Herky, each decorated with a different theme, were placed on campus and in the surrounding communities.

In 2004 Herky participated in the Universal Cheerleading Association's mascot national championship at Disney World for the first time.

In 2006 Herky qualified for the Universal Cheerleading Association's mascot national championship in Orlando, FL and placed 8th out of 10 [http://www.varsity.com/index.asp?article=2200]

In 2007 Herky received 5th place overall at the UCA Mascot Camp in Milwaukee, WI.

Herky has qualified 8th in the nation (tied with Chip of Colorado) with his video entry to the UCA Mascot National Championships. [http://www.varsity.com/nationals/08/col/mascot.pdf]

He will go head-to-head with the top ten mascots in the nation. Qualifying order was :1. Smokey of Tennessee2. Aubie of Auburn Univ.3. Bucky Badger of Wisconsin4. TC Panther of Northern Iowa5. Goldy Gopher of Minnesota6. YoUDee of Delaware7. Otto the Orange of Syracuse8. Herky9. Chip of Colorado10. Knightro of Central Florida

References

* [http://www.uiowa.edu/facts/traditions/herky.htm "Herky the Hawk"]
* [http://www.hawkcentral.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/HAWKS/40727051 "Hard-headed Herky different inside and out"]
* [http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/trads/herky.html "The Hawkeyes and Herky"]