LITTLE ROCK — Muleriders from Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia ate grilled steak at the Governor's Mansion on June 30 as part of Muleriders on Tour for friends and alumni.
The history of this unique mascot begins with the first football team, which used to ride in Model T Fords to away games. When they couldn't get enough cars, they rounded up mules and rode them to a train stop.
Event hosts were Linda and Jim Baker, Marilyn and Ed Choate, Linda and Jim Martindale, Mabelline Strong, Jane and Fred Eason, Janet and Michael Castleman, Robin and Mason Cozart, Cindy and Randy Lann and Tiffany Parker.
President David Rankin gave a campus update, and James Willis, who has written the 100-year history of the university, was the keynote speaker. Kristen Mosley, Miss SAU 2009, sang her pageant song, "Stuff Like That There." As part of the school's centennial celebration on Sept. 19, SAU will host the Great Southern Arkansas Mule Ride.
Organizers expect many mules and wagons to travel from the school to where the train depot was in McNeil. The deadline for registering for the ride is Aug. 19. After the ride, participants from the city'sannual World Championship Steak Cook-off, held in May, will have steak dinners for sale. For more information, call (870) 235-5090.
High Profile, Pages 44 on 07/12/2009