The birth of TRC’s mascot: Rocky Raider

The Poplar Bluff Museum has tales about us, our family and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

Three Rivers Junior College (TRJC) opened their initial 1967 basketball season as the TRJC Raiders. Their mascot/emblem was the same as the then-Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. This emblem never really caught on and the Booster Club went about coming up with a new one. The new Raider idea was conceived in the mind of Sam Giambelluca and assistant basketball coach Gary Holland. They approached basketball player Ron Johnson for his artistic abilities. His interpretation of the Warner Brothers cartoon “Yosemite Sam” was a hit. Sam was renamed “Rocky” and he made his first game appearance in 1971. Rocky Raider has cheered on multiple Three Rivers championship teams ever since.

The original “Rocky Raider” rendering along with a photo of creator Ron Johnson is on display in the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame located in the Poplar Bluff Museum. The Museum is handicap accessible and open every Sunday free of charge from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1010 Main St., Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.