Page 14 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2021- Online Magazine
P. 14
LOCAL LEGENDS
Happy 50 th
Anniversary
Raider Red!
by Bruce Bills
(now wife), Dinah, used Former Saddle Tramps Jim Douglass
papier-mâché, chicken and Jim Gaspard get their guns up at
wire, old leather shoulder Raider Red's birthday party.
pads, and boots from the
Salvation Army to bring
Texas Tech's first costumed
One of the early papier-mâché masks,
created by Jim Gaspard in 1971. mascot to life. He was
inspired by the drawings of
t Texas Tech, we are the late Dirk West, who was
fortunate to have not one, providing cartoons for the Lubbock
Abut two beloved mascots. Avalanche Journal at the time. West
The Masked Rider officially debuted had a character named Ol’ Red who
January 1, 1954, when Joe Kirk looked a little like Yosemite Sam.
Fulton, wearing a black cape and Fortunately for Tech fans, Gaspard
hat, led the team onto the field to felt compelled to bring Ol’ Red to
play Auburn in the Gator Bowl, life and give him the name Raider
which the underdog Red Raiders Red. West adopted the name for Today, Raider Red is also a public
won 35 - 13. his character as well, and the West
family later relations mascot who shakes hands
Before the 1971 donated all rights with the crowds at athletic events
football season, the to the character to and happily poses for pictures. He
Southwest Conference Texas Tech. attends football games, men's and
passed a rule which women's basketball games, women's
prohibited live animal Although the volleyball, as well as men's baseball.
mascots at out-of-town cartoons of Raider Raider Red makes appearances at
games, preventing Red were familiar Texas Tech tennis matches, softball
the Masked Rider to Techsans, it and soccer games, and countless
from representing the was Gaspard, Lubbock community events.
university at away who breathed Prior to 2005, only members of the
games. life into the
two-dimensional Saddle Tramps were able to serve as
That fall, Jim Gaspard, personality and Raider Red. In 2005, the Center for
a member of the male gave Texas Tech a Campus Life formed a partnership
spirit organization, colorful character with the Saddle Tramps and
Saddle Tramps, who embodied extended the privilege to the High
created the Raider Red the school’s Riders, a female spirit organization.
character in his dorm enthusiastic spirit Center for Campus Life and these
room at Clement Hall. at all away and two spirit organizations combine
He and his girlfriend home games. efforts in maintaining Raider Red.
14 Lubbock Senior Link
