User:Sooner Schooner/sandbox

Mex The Dog(1914-1928) was the first official mascot for the University of Oklahoma Sooners sports teams. Mex served as the official mascot from 1915 to 1928.

Early life
Mex was found among a litter of abandoned pups in 1914 by U.S. Army field hospital medic Mott Keys who was stationed along the United States-Mexican border near Laredo, Texas during the Mexican Revolution. Mex was adopted by Keys unit and when Keys finished his term of service and moved to Hollis, Oklahoma he took Mex with him. Keys would later attended OU and once again Mex followed with him.

Life as a mascot
Because of Mex's experience as an Army medic company mascot he quickly landed the job as the football teams mascot and a home in Kappa Sigma (Gamma-Kappa Chapter) fraternity house. Mex wore a red sweater with a big red letter 'O' on the side. One of his main jobs during gamedays was to keep stray dogs from roaming the then more accessible football field. Mex quickly became Oklahoma's most famous dog. Touchdowns were followed by 'A joyous staccato bark and a 'victory woof' punctuated home runs at baseball games. Mex's national fame began in October of 1924 when the football team headed north to play Drake University. By some mistake Mex wasn't placed on the train when the team and boosters switched cars in Arkansas City, Kansas to head for Des Moines, Iowa, and the game. With Mex missing the team were shut out by Drake, 28-0. The Arkansas Daily Traveler pinned the crushing loss to Mex with the headline:"Crushing Defeat of Bennie Owen's Team is Charged to Loss of Their Mascot Here." A 50 cent reward was offered for the return of Mex who was eventually discovered pacing the train station platform. OU Graduates J.D. Hull, Hughes B. Davis and J.C. Henley picked up Mex from the train station and drove Mex to the next game against Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State).

Death
On April 30, 1928 after 13 years as mascot Mex died of old age. Mex being popular among students and faculty the university closed on May 2, 1928 for his funeral and procession. Mex was buried in a small casket somewhere under the north side of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.