Iowa State’s beloved mascot, Cy, turned 70 in 2024.
Did you know?
The original 1954 costume can be viewed in Cy’s Lounge at the ISU Alumni Center.
Virgil Petty (’57, ’64) was the inaugural Cy mascot, chosen by the athletic club to don the cardinal and gold costume after being cut from the varsity basketball team.
The first costume –– purchased by the university for $200 –– was 8 feet, 6 inches tall, and mainly made from chicken wire and aluminum.
In 1954, Mrs. Ed Ohlsen was the first of 17 people to submit the name, Cy, in a nationwide naming contest.