FLORENCE — The University of North Alabama marked the 75th anniversary of the student mascot, Leo the Lion, by recognizing those currently sporting the costumes. This mascot anniversary came just after the UNA commemorated 194 years as the state’s oldest public four-year institution.
The men and women who have donned the costume, often under the cloak of full anonymity, did so out of a common trait – their love for UNA and the gameday experience.
Chase Rose savors his role as the student mascot today. The sophomore from Hatton began performing in high school, and he took on the role of Leo when he was a freshman at UNA.
When it comes to game time, “I let Leo take over because we are quite different,” Rose said. “He is much more social than I am. I have a difficult time; meanwhile, he can go up to anybody. He is a dancing queen.”
Leo can usually be found dancing, cheering, and mingling with the crowds at home games and community events. Selfies are a new addition, of course, and even college students love selfies with Leo. Still, the mascot remains rooted in tradition, and the student mascots today understand how important this history is to the university.
Leo’s origins
In 1949, when UNA was still Florence State Teachers College, the Leo mascot was created as a cartoon, “Leo the FSTC Lion,” and was published on the front page of the Flor-Ala student newspaper on Jan. 19 of that year. Leo’s creation was attributed to freshman Bobby Mitchell, who is rumored to have taken Leo’s name from his Latin dictionary as it means “lion.”
It would be another 12 years, however, before Leo would come alive with a costume. In 1961, when UNA was Florence State College, the Home Economics Department designed the clothing and the Art Department constructed the papier-mâché head with help from a sponsorship provided by the Circle K Club, a student outgrowth of Kiwanis International.
The first student to become Leo was C.W. Hunt during the 1961 football season. The identity of Leo was closely guarded and only revealed during halftime festivities of the final football game of the season. Leo often shared the sidelines with his original female counterpart, whose name was thought to have been Leona.
Honoring the past
Current mascot Rose said he feels compelled to honor the student mascots who came before him, C.W. Hunt, in particular.
“I feel the need to make sure that this is still Leo, that it’s the same Leo that C.W. Hunt first did,” Rose said during a rare interview.
Leo continues to have a partner in his antics, too. What began as Leona in the early 1960s transitioned to Una (pronounced You-na) in the early 2000s with the addition of twin lion cubs on campus – Leo and Una.
Sailor Letson is in her fifth year of being Una, Leo’s female counterpart. Her first game was Homecoming 2019, and last November’s Family Weekend game was the final football appearance of Letson’s career as the costumed lioness.
Although she wears the mascot costume, Letson said she prefers to think of herself as a friend of Una’s.
“I am so not like Una. It’s so funny,” she said. “Una has become such an influence on me. I wouldn’t be the person or student I am without her sassy, outgoing, bubbly personality.”
From ferocious to friendly
Back to the Leo timeline. After a four-year hiatus, Ramona Sutton brought the mascot back upon her arrival at UNA in 1979. Sutton and her mother restored the costume, and for $250, a company in Nashville designed a new costume head. Sutton’s mother designed the rest, which Sutton proudly wore for four seasons.
In December 1985, Sutton’s costume was replaced by a more ferocious Leo. From 1987-89, Blake Cook was the student behind the new ensemble. He ranked eighth at the National Collegiate Mascot Championships in 1987 and sixth in 1988.
On April 14, 1995, a new, more gentle Leo was introduced with several campus organizations contributing to the creation. This Leo is more welcoming to kids and others who prefer a friendlier face.
Making fans happy
Rose, a computer science major and self-proclaimed history buff, wants to continue his career as Leo while he is at UNA. He has competed at camps during his tenure, and he has thought about continuing his mascot career at the professional level.
“I think it is really cool,” Rose said. “I live for it. It’s similar to sports. You indirectly make them happy by doing this. The goal is to make people happy. It’s really cool.”
Letson said, “There are times that I forget that everybody at UNA doesn’t get to experience what I do. I got to conduct the Shoals Symphony Orchestra. We got to go surprise a little girl a couple weeks ago with the birthday fairy. Something so small and simple – just the array of opportunities.”
Rose and Letson said they are honored to be part of this anniversary.
“Seventy-five years is huge. It’s a huge opportunity for the mascots to get recognized even more than they already are,” Letson said. “I would say thank you to the students and the university as a whole for loving Una as much as I have and to continue loving and supporting the mascots because we are honored to represent the university, and it helps us by having such a great university to represent.”
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