Husky Through the Ages

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The husky mascot has been a tradition at Northeastern since 1927 with the inauguration of King Husky I by President Speare. In 1955, controversy struck, prompting the University to steer away from live mascots and adopt a permanent incarnation of the husky: a bronze statue.

Keep reading to learn more about the history of Northeastern's mascots from King Husky I to the present!
Leonhard Seppala: Inspiration for the Tradition

Leonhard Seppala: Inspiration for the Tradition

King Husky I was trained in Poland Springs, Maine, by Leonhard Seppala.  When Vice President Carl Ell sought out Seppala in 1927, he did so not only because Northeastern needed a mascot, but also because Seppala had already inspired one great tradition: the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  In 1925, Nome, Alaska, experienced an infamous diphtheria epidemic in which teams of sled dogs played an important role in bringing diphtheria serum through extremely harsh conditions.  Leonhard Seppala and his team of Siberian huskies carried the serum over 91 miles of the treacherous relay before passing his cargo to the more famous Gunnar Kaasen, driver of Balto, who covered the final stretch of trail and delivered the serum to Nome.

The efforts made by Seppala and the other teams have since been commemorated yearly by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  Having heard of Seppala's great achievements in 1925, Ell was eager to obtain one of Seppala's Siberian husky pups. Now, nearly a century later, members of the Northeastern community have Seppala to thank for their own tradition of the husky mascot.

Right: Leonhard Seppala (left), King Husky I (center), and Ray Todd, a member of the Northeastern University student council, pose for a photograph while another husky observes.

King Husky I

Reign: 1927-1941

Prior to 1927, Northeastern University had no official mascot.  A committee was formed to choose a mascot, and the members eventually settled on the Siberian husky.  In February 1927, then-Vice President Carl Ell selected a pup from legendary sled dog racer Leonhard Seppala's kennel in Poland Springs, Maine.  On March 4, 1927, King Husky I arrived at Northeastern and President Frank Speare presented the new mascot to the students in a University-wide celebration for which classes were even canceled.  King Husky I lived to old age as the University's mascot, dying in March of 1941. King Husky I was briefly replaced by Queen Husky I, who died after only a few months as the University's mascot.

Left: Vice President Carl Ell pats King Husky I while President Speare (holding leash) presents the new mascot to the student body.

King Husky II

Reign: 1942-1952

Queen Husky I was replaced in January 1942 by King Husky II.  King Husky II was purchased from Eva and Milton Seeley, owners of Chinook Kennels in Wonalancet, New Hampshire, marking the start of a 16-year arrangement with the kennel.  King Husky II retired ten years later in 1952 to be succeeded by the second mascot bred at Chinook Kennels, King Husky III.

Left: King Husky II is carried on a litter following his coronation on January 12, 1942.

King Husky III

Reign: 1952 - 1955
While the reigns of King Husky I, Queen Husky I, and King Husky II were peaceful, the reign of King Husky III began an era of turmoil for Northeastern's mascots.  King Husky III was crowned in 1952 and was presented by Eva Seeley, owner of Chinook Kennels where he had been bred and trained just like his predecessor, King Husky II.  After three years as mascot, King Husky III became ill and had to be put to sleep during the University's summer vacation in 1955.  The University did not release a statement about the mascot's death or alert the students, ostensibly because the University did not want to prompt any backlash against the kennel where King Husky III had been staying.  When the students returned in the fall, however, they quickly learned of their mascot's death.  Outraged by the perceived cover up, the editors of the Northeastern News planned to publish an inflammatory story, which the administration refused to let them print.  Appalled by the censorship, four editors of the Northeastern News quit their posts.

Left: Portrait of King Husky III

Princess Regent Husky

Reign: 1955-1957
In desperate need of a replacement mascot, the University adopted a temporary mascot, Princess Regent Husky, for the 1955-'56 and '56-'57 academic years.  Princess Regent Husky was also bred and trained by the Seeleys of Chinook Kennels.

Left: Portrait of Princess Regent Husky

 

King Husky IV

Reign: 1958
Following Princess Regent Husky's brief term, King Husky IV was crowned in February, 1958.  As with many of his predecessors, King Husky IV was bred and trained at Chinook Kennels by Eva and Milton Seeley, where he also lived when not involved in an event at Northeastern University.  Sadly, in August of 1958, the kennel suffered from a severe outbreak of distemper in which every dog at the kennel died,  including the young mascot.

For the remainder of the football season and for the football season of the following year ('59-'60), the University brought in King Husky IV's father, Alyeskas Suggen, as temporary mascot.

Left: Northeastern University mascot King Husky IV lies on the ground

 

Mr. and Mrs. Husky
Savadelis, Chuck
Northeastern University husky mascot statue

New Mascots

In 1959, a new mascot tradition was started.  The "Mr. Husky" competition is an annual event in which an election is held to assign the title to a male student who then wears a husky costume to University sporting events.  The tradition was started as a way to promote student interest in the games, and Mr. and Mrs. Husky were elected annually until the installation of Paws as the current Northeastern Mascot.

Also in 1959, the Husky Statue Fund Drive began as a method for raising funds for a husky statue, intended to help fill the void left by the discontinuation of the live mascot tradition.  The University commissioned the firm Cascieri and DiBiccari of Boston to produce the statue; it was carved by Anne Philbrick Hall.   The statue was installed at the University in 1962 and has remained here ever since, serving as a lasting symbol of University spirit.  University tradition holds that patting the statue will bring you and the school good luck; as a result the venerated statue's nose shows distinct signs of wear from all of the hands of hopeful students over the years.

Left: Mr. and Mrs. Husky stand together at their "wedding" (note Mr. Husky's top hat and Mrs. Husky's flowers) at which Mrs. Husky became an official co-mascot with Mr. Husky.
Right: The bronze husky statue adopted in 1962.

King Husky V

Reign: 1965 - 1970
In the fall of 1965, the class of 1970 rekindled the live mascot tradition when a group of freshman purchased King Husky V.  King Husky V served as mascot until the class of 1970 graduated, after which he was returned to his original handler.

Left: King Husky V with the bronze husky statue

 

Queen Husky II and King Husky VI

Reigns: 1970 - 1972, 1972

After the departure of King Husky V in the spring of 1970, the Husky Key Society crowned Queen Husky II and put her in the care of freshman Liz Busa.  Unfortunately, Queen Husky II suffered from severe stage fright and was unable to continue her duties as mascot.  Queen Husky II resigned in September of 1972 and was succeeded by her son, dubbed King Husky VI.

King Husky VI took the mascot throne in September, 1972 when it was abdicated by his mother, Queen Husky II.  He was a popular and well-liked mascot, and he was well-suited to the task.  Unfortunately, in November of 1972, he escaped from his kennel in Newton, Massachusetts and was struck by a car.  He was seriously injured in the accident, and he had to be put to sleep three days later.  After losing two mascots in three months, and after previous upheaval due to live husky mascots, the University administration has since expressed reluctance to continue the live mascot tradition.  In lieu of a live mascot, Mr. and Mrs. Husky attend sporting events and the husky statue provides luck and inspiration for students.

Left: Queen Husky II (bottom) and her son King Husky VI (top).

King Husky VIII and His Descendants

Reign: 2005 - Today

In 2005, nearly two decades after the death of King Husky VII, another King Husky was crowned in a bid to renew the school's live mascot tradition. King Husky VIII was bred and raised by University alumna Margaret Cook (c/o 1964), and he attended almost every home football game until the University football team was disbanded in 2009. Afterward, he and his three subsequent descendants have attended campus events, like hockey games and convocations. The current King Husky, "Moses," carries on the tradition to this day.

Left: President Freeland and his wife Maria pose with King Husky at the 2005 Homecoming game