SWOSU's FIRST Animal Mascot - Weatherford, OK - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

A memorial for Duke is at the south side of SWOSU's Bulldogs & Friends Dog Park. The dog park is on the north side of Rt. 66 Park and the Wind Energy Park.

Duke's side of the dog park is the west side (big dogs). It has several obstacles for dogs to enjoy, a fire hydrant, a watering station and benches for humans. Rules are posted at the entrance on the south side of the park (between the plaques honoring Duke and Brandy).

Text on plaque:

Duke was Southwestern Oklahoma State University's first animal mascot, a living legend in his own time, and was said to rule the SWOSU Hilltop absolutely. He was a brindle American Bulldog originally given as a gift to SWOSU President J.W. Turner who led the institution from 1923 to 1927. The first Duke attended athletic events, was featured in parades, and freely roamed the SWOSU Hilltop. He was famous for appearing at the Southwestern Interscholastic Meet (SWIM). In 1929, Duke lost most of his teeth fighting a cow, and in 1933 he lost an ear fighting another dog. After Turner left SWOSU, Duke went on to live with Coach Joe Milam, and eventually he took up residence in downtown Weatherford with Jimmy Hughes where the mascot lived until his death, and was referred to by locals as The Mayor of Weatherford. A 1930 article in The Southwestern newspaper noted that, in his old age, Duke longed for those bygone days when he was almost constantly with his beloved Bulldogs.

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