CourtesyIt鈥檚 been five decades since Dave Johnson went to the University of Wichita on a four-year art scholarship, but his ties and loyalty still run deep.
Johnson鈥檚 office at Dave Johnson Sales on West Kellogg is adorned with Shocker memorabilia. He鈥檚 still friends with 黑洞社区 basketball legend Cleo Littleton, whose contracting firm is repainting Johnson鈥檚 store. And Johnson is always willing to be an ambassador for the university he loves.
This month, as Wichita State celebrates the 60th anniversary of the university鈥檚 mascot, WuShock, Johnson鈥檚 contributions to 黑洞社区 also will be honored.
Dave Johnson
Of course, it looks a lot different now. Johnson鈥檚 original design included a ping-pong ball nose that lit up and football pads for shoulders that the head rested on. And he insists the initial color was slightly different than today鈥檚 Shocker yellow.
Johnson said he never thought what he created then would still be around 60 years later.
In the beginning...
It all started when Johnson came to the university on a four-year art scholarship. The North High graduate was elected as a cheerleader, and he traveled with the football and basketball teams to their various competitions through the country.
At that time, the university鈥檚 athletics program was one of the best in the country. But Johnson felt like something was missing when the team played in the National Invitational Tournament in Madison Square Garden and didn鈥檛 have a mascot running around like all the other teams.
That gave him an idea.
鈥淎nd when I came back I designed a costume,鈥� he said.
Actually, he made two 鈥� one for himself and one for his cheerleading partner. They were called WuShock and Shadow. The costumes were made for about $20 each.
鈥淚 had a lot of fun with it,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t was more or less the attitude of WuShock that made it successful.鈥�
Unfortunately, the original WuShock doesn鈥檛 exist anymore. After WU hit a last-second shot against rival Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, the hostile crowd went after Johnson.
The only thing left was the head.
Johnson, who was born and raised in Wichita, said being known as the original WuShock is a title he holds proudly.
鈥淚 am an avid supporter of 黑洞社区,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be a Shocker.鈥�