In 1966 UMBC’s Mascot was selected in a contest held by the nascent and then-nameless student newspaper. Tom Berlin suggested the winning entry - the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Though the retriever was named mascot in 1966, the actual inspiration for the statue outside the RAC was not found until the late 1980's. This inspiration was a real champion Chesapeake Bay retriever named True Grit.

While it was unconfirmed by the original owner of True Grit, it is likely that our mascot is named after the 1969 movie True Grit, staring John Wayne. So while having all of the qualities of a retriever, we know that True Grit was also a dog with an attitude that never backed down from a challenge much like John Wayne.

From The Lighter Side of Sports: What is True Grit? Retriever Weekly

President Michael Hooker, seen here in 1988, was instrumental in erecting the "True Grit" statue.

"True Grit" courtside at a Retriever basketball homegame in the late 80s.

The latest incarnation of "True Grit"

First There Was
"Campus Sam"

On December 12 or 22, 1966 (records disagree) the first live mascot was born to breeder Claude Callegary. Mr. Callegary's son was a student and lacrosse player at the new UMBC campus and lived in Catonsville. The mascot Chesapeake Bay Retriever was given to the University on May 15, 1967.  A contest was initiated, but seems to have fizzled and the dog remained nameless.

Unfortunately, no formal provisions were made to take care of the dog and it eventually ended up with Guy Chisholm who was in charge of the physical plant and who lived on campus with his family.  The dog eventually was named "Campus Sam" and according to several reports lived out its life as a pet of the Chisholm family.  Campus Sam rarely made official state visits as the UMBC Mascot.

John Willard