BEGINNINGS
Tuffy’s journey as the mascot of Angelo State University began with the live ram mascot, formerly "Ramses I" or "Shorty", being introduced in 1947, named Tuffy when the university introduced the yearling from Montana to the campus community. Acquired through the efforts of Toby Cook, Dothard Soechting, Milton Rathbone, and J.C. Gotcher, Tuffy was a symbol of community spirit and resourcefulness.
In 1963, the live ram was renamed Dominic, but Tuffy’s presence as a symbol for the university was immortalized in 1967, when he first appeared as an illustration in The Ram Page, the student newspaper. The illustrated Tuffy, known for his determined, athletic stance, began to appear on merchandise, solidifying his role as the university’s official mascot.
blevins and riley
A key moment in Tuffy's evolution occurred with the design credited to D'Alton Blevins in 1969. Blevins, working with ASU Bookstore manager Morgan Riley, created a cartoonish representation of Tuffy, which was widely used on merchandise during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
Though the design date is often attributed to 1969, promotional materials from as early as 1967 suggest Tuffy’s professional image was already in circulation. Here is a framed drawing that hangs in the Angelo State University LeGrand Alumni Center of what is considered the original Tuffy concept.
Text on the plaque:
This is the original artwork for a cartoon like character that came to be known as "Tuffy" the Ram. The drawing was dome by D'Alton Blevins in 1969. "Tuffy" was to adorn sweatshirts, t-shirts, coffee cups, seat cushions, mugs and many other forms of ASU memorabilia during the 1970's, 80's, and 90's. This drawing was given to the University by Morgan Riley who for many years served as the manager of the Angelo State University bookstore and who worked with Mr. Blevins in creating the character.
tuffy the ram
