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Red Raider
Mascot--The Masked Rider
On Jan. 1, 1954, Texas Tech fans attending the Gator Bowl in
Tampa, Florida, witnessed the evolution of a beloved tradition that
Red Raider fans would embrace for decades to come. Dressed in black
clothing with a long flowing cape and mounted on a solid black
gelding horse, Joe Kirk Fulton caught the eyes of the nation when he
stormed out onto the playing field to lead the Red Raider football
team. Ed Danforth of the Atlanta Constitution wrote: "No team in any
bowl game ever made a more sensational entrance." The dramatic entry
by the horse and rider electrified the crowd as well as the team,
which beat Auburn 35-13.
Forty-eight
years later, the Texas Tech Masked Rider is perhaps the most
recognizable collegiate mascot in the country. The Masked Rider is a
colorful symbol of school spirit and pride that carries a certain
mystique. Wearing black riding clothes, mask, bolero hat, and
scarlet cape, and perched atop Amos: a jet black quarter horse, the
Masked Rider is one of college football's most unique mascots.
Leading the team out onto the field before each home game, the
Masked Rider can additionally be seen at other Red Raider sporting
events. The rider and horse also represent Texas Tech at rodeos,
parades, civic events and school activities around the state.
The Masked Rider is selected through a process involving a
horsemanship trial scored by independent professional judges and
interviews with the university's Masked Rider Committee. Wells Fargo
Bank established the Wells Fargo Masked Rider Endowment at Texas
Tech University in 1995 to fund operations of the Masked Rider
program and provide the $2,000 Masked Rider Scholarship. Wells Fargo
has pledged a total of $250,000 to complete the endowment and
guarantee the future of the Masked Rider tradition. In addition,
Wells Fargo provided funding to obtain the current mascot, the
Masked Rider pickup and a new horse trailer.
There is no charge for Masked Rider appearances, but the Masked
Rider program does encourage donations to the Masked Rider endowment
fund.
Year |
Rider, Home Town |
Horse |
1953-54 |
Joe Kirk Fulton, Lubbock |
Blackie |
1954-55 |
Joe Kirk Fulton, Lubbock |
Blackie |
1955-56 |
Jim Cloyd, Canadian |
Blackie |
1956-57 |
Jim Cloyd, Canadian |
Tech Beauty |
1957-58 |
Donald Hollar, Guthrie |
Tech Beauty |
1958-59 |
Donald Hollar, Guthrie |
Tech Beauty |
1959-60 |
J.H. Rhea, Lubbock |
Beau Black |
1960-61 |
J.H. Rhea, Lubbock |
Beau Black |
1961-62 |
Kelley Waggoner, Henderson |
Tech Beauty |
1962-63 |
Bill Durfey, Wellington |
Tech Beauty |
1963-64 |
Douglas Hollar, Guthrie |
Charcoal Cody |
1964-65 |
Douglas Hollar, Guthrie |
Charcoal Cody |
1965-66 |
Douglas Wilson, Matador |
Charcoal Cody |
1966-67 |
Douglas Hollar, Guthrie |
Charcoal Cody |
1967-68 |
Douglas Hollar, Guthrie |
Charcoal Cody |
1968-69 |
Johnny Bob Carruth, DeLeon |
Charcoal Cody |
1969-70 |
Johnny Bob Carruth, DeLeon |
Charcoal Cody |
1970-71 |
Tommy Martin, Throckmorton |
Charcoal Cody |
1971-72 |
Randy Jeffers, Amarillo |
Charcoal Cody |
1972-73 |
Randy Jeffers, Amarillo |
Showboy Huffman |
1973-74 |
Gerald Nobles, Midland |
Happy Five |
1974-75 |
Ann Lynch, Dell City |
Happy Five |
1975-76 |
Joe Kim King, Brady |
Happy Five |
1976-77 |
Jess Wall, Perryton |
Happy Five |
1977-78 |
Larry Cade, Sonora |
Happy Five |
1978-79 |
Lee Puckitt, San Angelo |
Happy VI |
1979-80 |
Coke Hopping, Lubbock |
Happy VI |
1980-81 |
Kathleen Campbell, Portland |
Happy VI-II |
1981-82 |
Kurt Harris, Stratford |
Happy VI-II |
1982-83 |
Perry Church, Friona |
Happy VI-II |
1983-84 |
Jennifer Aufill, Lubbock |
Happy VI-II |
1984-85 |
Zurick Labrier, Dalhart |
Happy VI-II |
1985-86 |
Jerrell Key, Lubbock |
Happy VI-II |
1986-87 |
Daniel Jenkins, Higgins |
Happy VI-II |
1987-88 |
Kim Saunders, Marfa |
Midnight Raider |
1988-89 |
Lea Whitehead, Sonora |
Midnight Raider |
1989-90 |
Tonya Tinnin, Bell Ranch, N.M. |
Midnight Raider |
1990-91 |
Blaine Lemons, Colorado City |
Midnight Raider |
1991-92 |
Ralynn Key, Gail |
Midnight Raider |
1992-93 |
Jason Spence, Tahoka |
Midnight Raider |
1993-94 |
Lisa Gilbreath, Flower Mound |
Double T |
1994-95 |
Amy Smart, Dallas |
Double T |
1995-96 |
JoLynn Self, Amarillo |
High Red |
1996-97 |
Martha Reed, Knickerbocker |
High Red |
1997-98 |
Becky McDougal, Comanche |
High Red |
1998-99 |
Michael D. Abney, Athens |
Black Phantom Raider |
1999-00 |
Travis Thorne, Stanley, N.M. |
Black Phantom Raider |
2000-01 |
Lesley Gilbreath, Flower Mound |
Black Phantom Raider |
2001-02 |
Katie Carruth, Lubbock |
Black Phantom Raider |
2002-03 |
Jessica Melvin, Pierre, S.D. |
Midnight Matador |
2003-04 |
Ben Holland, Texline |
Midnight Matador |
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