Bumstead the Bear, cherished College mascot, will be considered an important element on campus next Monday, during Freshman and Sophomore class elections.

The student organization responsible for recruiting the most voters at the polls will have the honor of keeping a Bumstead trophy throughout the semester.

Actually the trophy is a big furry, stuffed toy concept of a more substantial Bumstead mascot which has taken at least five different forms during his 47-year history.

The first Bumstead was a much-alive cub which is remembered by old-timers as "the living spirit of the college" back in 1920. His persistent growth and bellowing caused the more cautious, after a year, to find him a more suitable home.

For their games from 1925 through 1927, students used to "borrow" a decorative plaster bear from an igloo-shaped ice-cream parlor on Seventh Street across from Phoenix Union High School.

The ice cream man would write a letter to the College administrations that their bear was missing -- again, and request students help to find him. By using the mail, he gave students more time to "search" for the bear.

The College had a "permanent" bear for the first time in 1931 when student Don Marquess obtained a 900-pound concrete and porcelain bear used as an advertisement by the Standard Oil Co.

Bumstead was christened in 1935 and with much ceremony was given a permanent pedestal four years later near the old flagpole where the new library stands.

Vandals during the next 10 years tarred and feathered him, painted him, decapitated him, then decapitated the repair job. Students gave up maintaining a physical image of Bumstead.

Meantime, students and teachers found a smaller version of a plaster bear, made a mold, and asked E. M. Adams of the Arizona Iron Works to cast an aluminum and steel statue.

For years, the plaster bear and its metal twin were dropped from sight.

Last year, both came to light: the plaster model was found in the Administrations Building attic by Dean J. Lee Thompson; the metal bear was found under saw horses and lumber in a storage area of Unit 6 by A. L. Darnell of the maintenance department.

Part of the Phoenix College website. Rendered on 8/12/98.