CONWAY, Ark. (Nov. 6, 2008) – Hendrix College’s mascot has a new name and attire. Responding to a college-wide “Name the Mascot” competition, Hendrix students voted to name the college’s Warrior mascot Ivan in honor of the college’s legendary coach and administrator Ivan Grove, utilizing a physical mascot for the first time since Hendrix changed its mascot imagery. The new mascot, which will perform at various Hendrix athletic events, was unveiled during a pep-rally at the school’s cafeteria Wednesday.
Hendrix Alumnus Chris Barrier ’64 of Little Rock won the “Name the Mascot” competition by suggesting the name Ivan and chose to donate his $100 prize to the college’s Buthman Scholarship Fund. Two students will share the responsibility of performing in costume as Ivan the Warrior.
In 2006 Hendrix began using images of its new Warrior mascot that draws on a classic, barbaric vision of a warrior – including leather armor and face-painting – after it discontinued using its traditional Native American warrior imagery in 2001. The college moved to eliminate the use of Native American imagery to promote its athletics teams well before the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) implemented its ban on such imagery in February 2006.
The basketball gymnasium in the college’s Wellness and Athletics Center is named for Grove, a Hendrix all-conference athlete and former all-sports coach and athletic director at Hendrix. He joined Hendrix in 1924, serving as head basketball coach until 1946, head football coach until 1955, and head track coach until 1958. He retired in 1962.
Born in Denver, Colo., in 1894, he attended Henry Kendall College (now University of Tulsa). While at Kendall, Grove was a four-year letterman in all four major sports. During his time there, he earned all-conference honors in football, baseball, basketball and track.
Grove was the quarterback for the 1916 and 1919 undefeated Kendall College football teams. In 1919, he led the nation in scoring with 194 points and was selected to the all-Oklahoma and all-southwest teams. In 1922, Grove received an Athletic Coaching Certificate from the University of Michigan, certifying him to coach football, baseball, basketball, track and field events. The certificate also certified him in athletic training, physical examinations, playground activities and athletic administration.
Following graduation, Grove held coaching positions at Oklahoma Baptist University and at Arkansas before coming to Hendrix.
During his life, Grove received many awards for both his athletic and civic accomplishments, including the following:
- 1948 Arkansas Democrat Sunday Magazine's "Arkansan of the Year"
- Charter Member Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame
- Member NAIA Hall of Fame
- Member Helm Hall Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame
- Distinguished Service Award from Conway Chamber of Commerce
- Charter Member University of Tulsa Athletics Hall of Fame
- Charter Member Hendrix Sports Hall of Honor
- Member Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Fame
Hendrix, founded in 1876, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing experiential learning in a demanding yet supportive environment. The college is among 165 colleges featured in the 2008 edition of the Princeton Review America’s Best Value Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.