Fort Hays State University’s Tiger mascot has existed in various forms since 1914, but no conclusive historical record identifies its creation, though some evidence suggests it may have been the brainchild of the university’s first president, W.A. Lewis. For many years there was no officially designated version of the FHSU Tiger, and multiple varieties appeared over time, with two or three or more versions sharing the stage in a given year. In 1999, FHSU president Dr. Edward H. Hammond decided to create a change and directed the university’s Integrated Marketing Committee to develop a high-energy, expressive, confident Tiger. Art Director Mary Ridgway created the new official graphic image the committee requested, modeling it on the old Tiger head at center court in Gross Memorial Coliseum. After testing and a few adjustments involving students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university, President Hammond unveiled the university’s first official mascot on April 3, 2000, and a few months later, following student suggestions, the mascot received the name Victor E. Tiger.