{"id":1879,"date":"2018-09-12T17:20:21","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T17:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?p=1879"},"modified":"2019-06-30T11:58:24","modified_gmt":"2019-06-30T16:58:24","slug":"max-griffon-in-the-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/09\/12\/max-griffon-in-the-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Max Griffon in the Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Diane Holtz<\/span><\/p>\n

First of all, what is a Griffon, and why are you our mascot?<\/b><\/p>\n

That\u2019s an easy one. In 1917, the students decided the college needed a mascot. One of them, Norman Knight, created me. He said the Griffon, a cross between a lion and an eagle, was a mythological guardian of treasure, and education was a precious treasure that you had to work hard to obtain. I guess all the students thought that was pretty cool.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you think has been the biggest and best change for Missouri Western?<\/b><\/p>\n

I think it was when we became a four-year college and moved out to our present campus. We were a junior college scattered in several buildings downtown, and now we have a 723-acre beautiful campus. That\u2019s pretty awesome, and I\u2019m glad I was there to see it and have been able to watch it continue to grow.<\/span><\/p>\n

And you\u2019re based on a mythological creature? <\/b><\/p>\n

Yeah, I know, that kind of caused an existential crisis for me. Do I exist? Am I real? I decided that, yes, I do; yes, I am; and my purpose is to spread Missouri Western spirit and inspire students to work hard for their education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Max? Are you named after someone?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yes, but it\u2019s complicated. In 2005, I was named after Max Grooms, an avid supporter of Missouri Western Athletics<\/a>. But in the 1990s, I was called Sam, and then that changed to Sampson a few years later. <\/span><\/p>\n

How do you fill your days?<\/b><\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019m really busy going to Missouri Western athletic events. Throw in parades and pizza parties in elementary schools, and I don\u2019t have much spare time. When I do, I like to hang out in the bookstore, looking at myself on shirts and stuff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the most challenging part of being a mascot?<\/b><\/p>\n

That\u2019s an easy one; getting mauled by kids. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I love kids, but boy, do they love me, too. Maybe it would help if I wasn\u2019t such a fun guy, but, hey, that\u2019s just me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t