Jerry III Takes Office as ATU Campus Ambassador

Jerry Charles Young III took office as campus ambassador at Arkansas Tech University on Monday, April 24.

He succeeds his half-brother, Jerry Charles Young II, who retired as of Friday, April 21.

Jerry Charles Young III is an English bulldog. He was born on the day of Time Out for Tech — Feb. 23, 2023 — in Frankfort, Kan. He was eight weeks old and weighed 9.3 pounds upon assuming the duties of ATU campus ambassador.

Jerry will receive his immunizations and participate in training over the weeks to come. It is anticipated he will be ready to begin the normal schedule of campus ambassador activities and public appearances this summer.

The story of Jerry the Bulldog at ATU dates back to the 1930s.

The original Jerry was owned by William O. Young, who oversaw the business affairs of Arkansas Tech as secretary and bursar from 1917-41 and acted as interim president of the college from 1923-25; and his son, Robert A. Young Sr., who grew up to serve as purchasing agent, business manager, vice president for business affairs and vice president for administration and finance at Arkansas Tech from 1941-84 as well as interim president in 1972. Dr. Robert A. Young Jr. has continued his family's Tech tradition by serving as president of the Arkansas Tech Foundation and as a loyal supporter of ATU athletics.

The original Jerry spent much of his time on campus at the armory (later known as the Stroupe Building) with National Guard Battery F. The students and guardsmen there adopted Jerry as one of their own.

An article from the Feb. 26, 1936, issue of the Arka Tech student newspaper stated that Jerry was "always present at anything of importance at the armory," which was a social center of campus at that time and the site of Arkansas Tech home basketball games.

When the original Jerry passed away in late 1937, the headline in the Arka Tech proclaimed "Campus Loses Mascot in Passing of Jerry."

Jerry Charles Young I, ATU's first modern Jerry, restored the tradition when he was introduced as ATU campus ambassador on Oct. 26, 2013. He served in that capacity until his retirement on Oct. 1, 2022. Jerry Charles Young II served from Oct. 1, 2022, to April 21, 2023.

Jerry the Bulldog attends a variety of campus events and alumni gatherings as well as Wonder Boys and Golden Suns athletic competitions. In keeping with the original Jerry's connection to the armed services, Jerry is escorted to many of his official functions by students from the Arkansas Tech U.S. Army ROTC program.

ATU alumnus Dr. Heath Stump and Dr. Jennifer Heim of Russellville Animal Clinic provide veterinary care for the campus ambassador program.

Creature Comforts, owned by Betsy and Noel Snyder, provides for campus ambassador boarding needs. Betsy is the great-granddaughter of William O. Young, who owned the original Jerry during the 1930s.

Heather and Sam Strasner and their son, Seth, are day-to-day caretakers for Jerry the Bulldog.

Members of the university community and beyond can interact with the ATU campus ambassador program through Jerry the Bulldog's official @arkansastechjerry Instagram and Facebook accounts.