The Evolution of Western Kentucky University's Visual Identity: From Humble Beginnings to Big Red
Western Kentucky University (WKU), a public institution in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has a rich history dating back to 1906, with roots extending even further into the 19th century. Over the years, along with its academic and athletic programs, WKU's logos and mascots have evolved, reflecting the institution's changing identity and aspirations. This article delves into the history of the university's logos, exploring their design elements and significance. We'll also explore the story of Big Red, WKU's beloved mascot.
From Normal School to University: The Early Years
The origins of WKU can be traced to 1876 with the establishment of the Glasgow Normal School and Business College in Glasgow, Kentucky, by A.W. Mell. This institution later relocated to Bowling Green in 1884, becoming the Southern Normal School and Business College. In 1890, Potter College, a private women's college, was founded by Pleasant J. Potter.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1906 when Henry Hardin Cherry, then owner of the Southern Normal School, played a key role in establishing the Western Kentucky State Normal School through an act of the Kentucky General Assembly. Cherry became the first president of the newly formed institution. The school was established on March 21, 1906, when the Kentucky General Assembly approved legislation to establish two teacher training institutions. The locating commission chose Bowling Green as the site of one, and the Western Kentucky State Normal School was established. The new state-supported school took over the building and student body of the privately owned Southern Normal School. On February 4, 1911, the school moved to its present site on “The Hill,” approximately 125 feet above downtown Bowling Green.
The institution underwent several name changes, reflecting its expanding academic offerings:
- 1906-1922: Western Kentucky State Normal School
- 1922-1930: Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College
- 1930-1948: Western Kentucky State Teachers College
- 1948-1966: Western Kentucky State College
In 1922, the school was authorized by the state to grant four-year degrees and was renamed Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College. The first four-year degrees were awarded in 1924. In 1927, the school merged with Ogden College. The name changed again in 1930 to Western Kentucky State Teachers College. The school was authorized to offer the Master of Arts degree in 1931. WKSC merged with the Bowling Green College of Commerce in 1963. In 1965, the Board of Regents approved the formation of three more colleges: the Potter College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education, and the Ogden College of Science and Technology. More colleges and reorganization followed throughout the years as WKU continued to grow. The College of Health and Human Services was established in 2002. In 2011, the university’s first doctoral degrees, the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, were awarded through the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.
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The Hilltoppers Logo: A Symbol of Athletic Pride
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers represent WKU's athletic teams. Their logo has undergone several iterations.
Early Logo Design: The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers logo showcases a large piece of red cloth, which represents a flag. On the red background, the lettering “WKU” (the university’s initials) can be seen. Also, there is a hand holding the flag. While the shades and the different size of the glyphs add some depth, the letters do not seamlessly merge into the design.
1971 - 2001: The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers logo, designed in 1971, remained in use for thirty years. It featured a white hand holding a red flag, resembling a wide scarf. The flag displayed three white capital letters "WKU" in a bold, geometric serif font, each outlined in black, as was the white hand.
2001 - 2016: A redesign in 2001 modernized the logo, employing darker shades and smoother lines. The hand was redrawn in gray with a gray outline surrounding all elements, and the banner was oriented to the left.
2016 - 2017: In 2016, the logo was redesigned again, with the banner returned to its original right-facing orientation and the gray color removed. The shade of red was also lightened, resembling the original logo. This version was only used for one year.
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Big Red: Embodiment of the WKU Spirit
Beyond the traditional logos, WKU boasts a unique and beloved mascot: Big Red.
Before Big Red’s debut, WKU had two mascot predecessors that did not sway crowds as well as Big Red. The second mascot who tried to win over the student body of WKU was a man who wore a Daniel Boone-style raccoon hat, a jacket, moccasins and a rifle.
The mascot's creation was spurred by a challenge from basketball coach Gene Keady. Gary Ransdell, then assistant director of alumni affairs, and Ron Beck, assistant dean of students, sought to create a mascot that would resonate with the student body. Ransdell visited Ralph Carey, a business major with mascot experience at Kings Island amusement park.
Big Red debuted on December 1, 1979, during a basketball game. During the last home game before the Christmas break of 1979, Head Coach Gene Keady was called away from WKU’s basketball team to the middle of Diddle Arena. Santa Claus, then, pushed a massive white box with an equally big red bow on top towards Keady. Debuted on Dec. 1, 1979, Big Red was only a few months old when the crowd of over 10,000 people went nuts over their new school mascot. Carey and Ransdell initially bought red fur, chicken wire and glue from a nearby shoe factory, which combined to create the very first Big Red. The next caretaker of Big Red was sophomore community health major Mark Greer, who looked after Big Red from 1980 to 1983 up until he graduated from WKU. During one Halloween season WKU professor Larry Elliott, his wife, Wilma Elliot, and their daughter, Kelly Elliot, created Little Red, who looked like a child version of Big Red. In this impromptu meeting, Little Red entered the stadium as Big Red was working the crowd. After some time, Big Red ran over, reached down and gave Little Red a hug.
Big Red is a large, furry creature with eyes, arms, and legs. Its ambiguous form has led to much speculation about its true nature. However, it is generally accepted that Big Red embodies the spirit of WKU.
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Big Red’s popularity has extended beyond the university, gaining national recognition. Multiple news organizations wrote stories about Big Red such as The New York Times, The Courier-Journal and ESPN, which typically address Big Red’s true identity. Big Red has also been in articles that either list it as one of the best or one of the weirdest college mascots around.
Legal Battles and International Imitation
Big Red's unique design has also led to some interesting legal situations. An Italian television company created a mascot named Gabibbo in 1990 that strikingly resembled Big Red, the most noticeable difference being a large mustache. In Big Red’s battle against Gabibbo, the ruling judge declared that Big Red, as WKU’s mascot, can be placed under copyright protection, yet the likeness of Big Red is considered to be under public domain, which copyright law doesn’t protect.
WKU Athletics: A Legacy of Success
WKU's athletic teams have achieved notable success over the years.
The men's basketball team reached the Sweet 16 in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. In 2002, WKU won the NCAA Division I FCS National Championship, under coach Jack Harbaugh. The baseball team won the Conference-USA Championship in 2025.
"The Hill": A Defining Landmark
A defining characteristic of Western Kentucky University is its placement on top of a hill. This is a point of pride for many affiliated with the institution and its relative uniqueness is celebrated by members of the WKU community. "The Hill" is a common nickname for WKU's Bowling Green campus, especially in communication to prospective and current students. WKU's campus also features multiple buildings and sites included on the National Register of Historic Places.
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