91¶ÌÊÓƵ

By Kandice Harris and Jaime Winston BA ’22

Waldo the wildcat has served six decades as 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s charming mascot.

Whether illustrated or live and in-person, the feline with the most 91¶ÌÊÓƵ spirit has helped shape the university community’s collective memory.

As Waldo enters his golden years, we reflect on his historic tenure at the university. May there be many more years to come.

Birth of a Wildcat

“Mr. Weber State” Dean Hurst AS ’48 served as the first full-time director of Weber State’s Alumni Association and the newly created college development fund. During his Weber career, he secured more than $50 million in gifts to the institution and procured funds for iconic structures like the Stewart Bell Tower and Dee Events Center.

His most famous accomplishment, though, was creating a beloved mascot.

“He always joked, ‘I will go to my grave having people think the only thing I ever did at Weber State was make Waldo,’” said Dean’s daughter, Karin Hurst AA ’79.

In January 2024, Dean passed away at age 97.

The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ community remembers Dean for his work with alumni, fundraising and, later, as vice president of college relations, but he had a point about his mascot art standing out.

Weber State approached Dean to draw Waldo, named by athletic director Gary Crompton, to promote the football and basketball teams. According to Special Collections & University Archives, the first-known Waldo reference appears in a 1964 Signpost student newspaper ad, offering readers a chance to order their own Waldo the Wildcat T-shirt.

“Waldo took off,” Karin said. “He’s lovable, he’s spunky, he’s kind of irreverent, he’s sassy, and I think he became more than a mascot; he became a symbol of Weber State.”

Dean’s art helped promote sports events, with Waldo taking on other team mascots like the Idaho Vandal and Northern Arizona Lumberjack. It also helped promote various campus programs, such as the rodeo and international clubs.

Dean even used Waldo in fundraising presentations. He also created a female counterpart, Wilma, who, unfortunately, didn’t gain the same level of popularity.

Karin recalls discussing Waldo’s tail with her father. In his earlier renditions, Waldo doesn’t have a tail. Later, Dean added a short one. “Which he said wasn’t entirely accurate,” Karin said. “He just said it fit better than having a long, waving tail.”

Waldo helped Weber State College rebrand itself to the community after becoming a four-year baccalaureate institution during the 1963–64 academic year.

Dean kept drawing Waldo until he retired from 91¶ÌÊÓƵ in 1991.

While the Athletics Department now uses a fiercer wildcat in its branding, Dean’s character has inspired decades of Waldo T-shirts, pins, mascot costumes and more.

“A cat has nine lives,” Karin said. “I don’t think Waldo’s ever going to die.”

Being Waldo

Joseph Limb acrobatically tumbled across the Stewart Stadium end zone in his graduation robe, finishing his routine in a happy dance and jump split after hearing his name at the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology’s 2021 convocation.

Anyone could tell he was thrilled to receive his Bachelor of Science and be named outstanding student in electrical engineering, but only keen fans might have recognized his moves from a Wildcats basketball or football game. Limb took the role of Waldo at both Spirit Squad competitions and a wide range of campus events during his eight years at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.

“If I could go back and keep doing it, I totally would,” Limb said.

Before switching to electrical engineering, he began his 91¶ÌÊÓƵ education as a music major. Whether performing percussion with the band or working on electronic devices, he knew he would need a scholarship to afford tuition. A former gymnastics teammate recommended the Spirit Squad, which offers scholarships. He wasn’t sure about the idea at first. And, at the tryouts, he felt defeated when he didn’t know stunting as well as those with experience. As he headed toward the door, a cheerleader sent by coach Summer Willis stopped him.

“Summer came to me and said, ‘We just redesigned our mascot, and we need somebody who can tumble in it. Would you be willing to do that?’” he recalled.

Willis’s insistence paid off. Limb caught on quickly and won the National Mascot Championship at the National Cheerleaders Association championships three times. Along with the accolades, Waldo allowed Limb to step outside his own skin.

“I’m pretty introverted, but having that suit on, I was able to go out into a crowd and just make people laugh, make people smile and dance like nobody was watching,” he said.

During a basketball game, he might have done splits through a basketball hoop during a timeout and then searched for fans to sit next to as the game commenced. “You’re just trying to have as many interactions as you can to make someone’s day,” he said.

According to Limb, future Waldos should know when to be energetic, when to tone it down, when teasing is fun for someone and when it crosses a line.

“Great mascots are able to be in the moment with people and bring out the best in the moment, whether that’s taking a picture with an elderly person who is just thrilled to be there and have this fluffy animal next to them or knowing when to step back and give a child space when they’re scared,” he said.

When he needed a role model for conducting himself, he looked to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s presidents. Both Charles Wight and Brad Mortensen served as president when Limb was a student.

Limb recalls once consulting Wight, a former chemistry professor, about using carbon dioxide gas canisters during his 2015 National Mascot Championship performance. Combustibles were not allowed, and Wight assured Limb that carbon dioxide is an inert gas. Wight later cheered on Limb as he won the competition.

Waldo helped Limb gain his confidence and realize how much he could accomplish. He also learned that great teammates build confidence in one another by performing with the cheer team and working with athletics department staff members who helped him with everything from transportation to creating props.

While he can’t speak much about the specifics of his job now, these experiences transfer to his current work as an electrical engineer at Northrop Grumman.

Limb hopes to see future Waldos continue to be positive representatives of the university and create great memories whenever they wear the suit.

A 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Mascot History

1920 Weber students became known as the Wildcats when the term was used in the Ogden Standard Examiner discussing a football game against Ogden High School, although it wouldn’t be widely used across campus until the 1930s. The nickname was also given to Wallace Morris, a football player on the 1923 and 1924 teams.

1946 Farrell Collett, an art professor, drew a mascot for the Signpost. Sophomore Don Brenneman won a contest to name the character with his suggestion, “Webert.” Other entries included Mert the Mewer, Hep Cat, Peter Puss, Webe and Willie the Wildcat.

1953 A halftime picture from the Homecoming football game is the first record of someone dressing up as a mascot.

1963–64 A costumed mascot later appeared at events during the school year.

1964 A newborn female bobcat was rescued from being killed by its mother by Weber Assistant Professor of Microbiology David Terry, who housed and fed the cat for nine months before giving it to the institution. The Spirit Committee took over the wildcat’s care. She would appear at any games where the Wildcat Marching Band performed. The wildcat was friendly with small groups. However, while appearing at games and parades, she was sedated so she wouldn’t get agitated by large crowds. After she attacked a cheerleader in 1968, she was rehomed in Eden, Utah.

1964 Dean Hurst, who later became Weber’s executive director of Alumni Relations, created Waldo the Wildcat for the Athletics Department. The earliest-known reference to the character appears in the Signpost student newspaper in October 1964. The live wildcat was also named Waldo in February 1965.

1968 An official costumed Waldo was introduced in March 1968 at a basketball game in Montana. The costume was ordered from a Salt Lake City costume shop. Waldo’s purpose was to promote “enthusiasm and spirit at athletic events.” Waldo was generally only present at home games and wasn’t allowed to go to any away games. The costume was retired in 1973 after the cheerleader who dressed as Waldo stepped down, only to be brought back in 1976.

1979 Primo the Peacock was introduced at a basketball game. The costume cost $300, with a substantial portion donated by the Wildcat Club.

1980 A new Waldo was introduced in January 1980 and appeared at events alongside Primo until Homecoming 1980, when Primo quietly went away.

1982 A new costume was introduced around 1982, adding whiskers to the costume. The costume was changed again around 1987, adding a mohawk.

1992 A more cartoonish, friendlier looking Waldo was introduced around 1992. He made his last appearance in August 2012 at the opening of Wildcat Village Stewart Wasatch Hall, and the contemporary Waldo was introduced in September 2012.

1995 A second mascot, The Cat, was introduced in fall 1995. He was labeled as Waldo’s fierce cousin. Matt Maw served as The Cat from 1999–2000, until he broke his neck while attempting a triple back flip. Because of his story, actor Christopher Reeve came to campus for convocation. In Matt’s honor, The Cat was retired in August 2000.