Happy Birthday Bucky!
UW Madison’s mascot Buckingham U. Badger, more lovingly known as Bucky, turned 71 years old on Sept. 24. Community members, alumni and students gathered at Badger Bash to celebrate Bucky’s big day.
At 11:00, guests began signing Bucky’s birthday card and sending him happy birthday wishes. After joining in a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday,” bash attendees enjoyed free cupcakes from a massive cupcake mosaic of Bucky’s face.
Inside Union South, memories of Bucky Badger lined the walls. “A Century of Bucky” displayed 23 enlarged images of UW Madison’s mascot. Photos from 1909 showed Bucky’s first appearance in the Badger football program. The timeline showed Bucky throughout the decades all the way to a photo of Bucky sitting in a Terrace chair in 2010.
Photo above: The first human Bucky mascot entertains crowds at the homecoming game against Iowa in 1949. Photo courtesy of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections.
Although Bucky’s birthday is over, Badger Bash will continue for the rest of the football season. For more information about Badger Bash, visit the Badger Bash page on the Wisconsin Union website.
You can also share your photos, videos and memories of Bucky’s 71st Birthday celebration. Post photos and comments on the Wisconsin Union Facebook page, and follow the Wisconsin Union Twitter page to stay up to date on every Union celebration.
