On Monday, Oct. 23rd, ATU students, staff, and alumni celebrated Jerry Day for the 10th consecutive year. The tradition of Jerry Day began when members of the ATU Student Government Association voted to revive the legend of Jerry the Bulldog and introduced Jerry Charles Young I to the Arkansas Tech family.
William O. Young served as business manager for Arkansas Tech from 1917-41 and acted as interim president of the college from 1923-25. Young owned a bulldog named Jerry Charles Young. Jerry spent most of his time at the now-demolished Stroupe building. Students loved seeing Jerry around campus and declared him as the unofficial mascot of Arkansas Tech University. Once the original Jerry passed away, the tradition was discontinued and he was not replaced for seventy six years.
On Oct. 23, 2013, the Student Government Association gathered for a meeting in Doc Bryan and decided through a unanimous vote to reinstate Jerry as the official campus ambassador of Arkansas Tech University.
After the reinstatement, Jerry Charles Young I was presented to the public through a
homecoming ceremony on Oct. 26, 2013. Jerry was born on July 17, 2013 in Oklahoma and
served a long nine years before he retired in 2022. Shortly after his retirement, Jerry unfortunately passed away due to natural causes in October of 2022.
On Oct. 1, 2022, Jerry II officially became the ATU campus ambassador and Jerry I formally retired. Jerry II was born in Kansas in May of 2022 and came to Arkansas three months after his birth. Jerry II was unable to serve as campus ambassador for long due to a hip condition that affected his health. He currently lives in Kansas with the veterinarian who assisted in his birth.
Monday, April 24, 2023, Jerry III officially became the newest campus ambassador. Jerry III is the half-brother of Jerry II and was born in the same city of Frankfort, Kansas as Jerry II. Jerry was born the same day as Time Out For Tech, on Feb. 23, 2023. Students adore Jerry III, and each Jerry before him was equally as beloved.
