Crescent History - “Foxy George”

By: Natascha Lambing

Illustrated by: Will Howell and Carla Cieza

NEWBEG, Ore. - Recently, Katie Hummer was waiting for lunch at Canyon Commons and noticed a peculiar illustration of a fox among other historical George Fox University (GFU) facts. “I was reading it [and thought] this guy is adorable,” she said.

The illustration in question was one of “Foxy George,” a little fox dressed in “Quaker” attire. Hummer then posted the image to an Instagram story with the hashtag, “bringbackfoxygeorge.” “I think it would be awesome if we had some Foxy George shirts or something, or stickers even,” Hummer said. “This could be a break from the normal marketing, as kinda like merch.”

It would certainly not be the first time Foxy George has appeared in print or as a part of GFU’s marketing. “Foxy George” first appeared in October 1962, in the semester’s first publication of The Crescent, asking, “Shall we be blessing the grapes and pears?” Created by Will Howell, “Foxy George” made an appearance in nearly every issue of The Crescent over the next four years.

Originally listed as “errand boy,” Howell attended GFU from 1962-66 working on The Crescent staff and later became the Director of Publicity for GFU’s student body while pursuing a degree in education. According to Barry Hubbell, a long-time GFU employee, “The illustrated foxy character morphed into a costumed mascot that attended games and events.”

Originally it was Howell himself who did this portrayal, specifically at basketball games, noting in a December 1962 “Letter to the Editor'' in The Crescent, “there have been several skeptics who say foxes do not growl. This fox growls! GGRROOWWLL!!!!!”

Nobody recalls the exact original idea behind the slightly bedraggled fox. However, Ron Stansell, a prior editor for The Crescent, 1965 GFU graduate, and professor emeritus of religious studies at GFU said, “it was just in his (Will’s) fertile brain and out of that he developed the costume and the Foxy George mascot.” Howell himself said in the December 1962 issue “Letter to the Editor,” “I have felt the need to explain the subjects of my Foxy George cartoons, which are subtle criticisms. I believe a balance of praise and criticism must be maintained on campus ... I hope that no one will be offended by the cartoons.”

Stansell recalls that while he was a student at GFU in the early sixties, The Crescent staff played a part in many “subtle inside jokes that only the people of the time could understand.” Foxy George was part of that pattern.

For example, a satirical issue of The Crescent, published as “the Lunatic'' in February 1963, included students staging a “civil defense drill” into the “campus bomb shelter” in what was previously Shambaugh Library, now Murdock Library. Editor of that issue, Joyce LeBaron remarked in a later June 1963 issue, “I have mixed feelings concerning the treatment of The Lunatic … the letter of censure I received for publishing it will always be a treasured college memento … however I remind myself that anything new is to be viewed with suspicion … And I hope that some future editor will make another attempt and get a better reception.”

Perhaps the same goes for Foxy George. For now he will remain an integral part of the history of The Crescent, but one day he may make a return to the page, whether that be by illustration, sweatshirt adornment, or StickerFest.