K-State’s mascot appeared in 1947, and Willie has undergone several makeovers since then. But one thing about Willie has remained the same: his identity is still kept a secret.
- Adrea Simmons Andersen '55 played K-State's first mascot at the September 1947 football game against Oklahoma A&M. She dressed in a red-brown wildcat costume with black stripes and a tail.
- Throughout the 1960s Sigma Chi fraternity members played Willie. Some people thought this version of the mascot looked like Mickey Mouse.
- By the late 1960s K-State wanted a new image. Sculptor Jim Hagan '50, '66, '68 created a new, meaner-looking Willie. He built two Willie heads covered with coyote and wolf hair. The first head lasted from 1967 until 1980; the second lasted until 1993.
- In 1993 the Kaw Valley Catbacker Club donated the fifth Willie head. The new head was rounder and made out of brown artificial fur.
- In 1997 Willie received another facelift. This Willie head, still used today, has gray fur with two white stripes to resemble the Powercat logo. The new head weighs five pounds and features an electronic cooling fan.
Cartoon Willie
Willie was drawn as a cartoon graphic beginning in the 1960s. Through the years, his expression changed from comical to fierce to friendly. His body went from scrawny to pumped up.
Earlier mascots
Beginning as early as 1922, a real wildcat named Touchdown served as team mascot during games.
From 1906 to 1909 a black Labrador named Boscoe represented K-State at baseball and football games.
Powercat logo
The Powercat logo was introduced in 1989 by football coach Bill Snyder, who wanted a new logo for his team. Illustrator Tom Bookwalter created the logo.
