Photos by Ava Kitzi

You know him, you love him.

The happy-go-lucky Bengal tiger we see on the football field doing cartwheels, the splits and even parachuting from a jet is a Columbia celebrity. He’s animated and walks like he has springs for joints. He keeps spirits high when the scoreboard is low. He’s an integral piece of Mizzou athletics and a tradition that traces all the way back to the 1860s.

Until 1981, the university’s mascots were “Big Tiger” and “Lil’ Tiger”, but the decision was made to consolidate them into one, named for the only President from Missouri. In 1986, the Truman we know today was designed and introduced. Truman the Tiger then skyrocketed in popularity — eventually going on to win two national titles. But this wouldn’t be possible without strong leadership. Former head cheerleading coach Suzy Thompson spent decades filling in Truman’s stripes with Sharpie when they faded, acting as handler and keeping the childlike wonder surrounding Truman alive. But the most rewarding part of her career, Thompson says, wasn’t the trophies (although those were pretty great, too); it was the students she worked with. “They’re just good kids,” Thompson says of her student-athletes who donned the Truman suit. “These are kids who want to be there … they don’t want recognition. It takes a special breed of person to do this.”

If it takes a special person to do this job, how do they choose? Who has the Truman factor? Thompson says when she would audition potential Trumans, she would look for sincerity. She looked for dedication and strong discipline, as Truman is not an easy role in the slightest. “You have no idea how hot it is in that suit,” Thompson laughs. “My god.”

So, what makes a Truman? Someone with dedication, spirit and ambition. Maybe it’s someone who attended a football game as a child and thought, “that’s what I want to do.” Or, maybe it’s someone who initially never gave being a mascot a thought.

When John Lyman was a student at Rock Bridge High School and his mother suggested he try out to be the Bruin, it was a resounding no from Lyman. But when he attended college, his now-wife, then a Mizzou cheerleader, urged him to try out for Truman. It took a bit of convincing before he was in the suit. Lyman went on to spend three years as Truman and fondly recalls the experience of spreading joy to Mizzou fans, partaking in parades and even visiting the Whiteman Air Force Base. He says being Truman gave him the communication and time management skills that could only come from the experience of being a full time athlete and student with a job.

“Being in that suit teaches you to communicate without talking,” Lyman explains. “It’s a great skill to have.” Now, the Truman alumnus is on the Columbia School Board and works at Veterans United, still deeply involved in the community. When he attends a Mizzou football game with his family or runs into Truman at an event, he’ll reflect on the experience he had. “My kids will say, ‘here goes dad again on his Truman thing,’” Lyman says. “But if we’re at a football game, I’m watching the game, but I’m also watching what (Truman’s) doing. It’s like second nature.”

Photos contributed by John Lyman.

Another Truman alumnus, Dan Meers, wears a suit to work — that might be where his career’s similarities to yours end. In 1986, Meers started out as Truman the Tiger, unaware that this choice would propel him to becoming one of the most beloved and longest-tenured mascots in the professional sports world.

Throughout his time at Mizzou, Meers traveled the country as Truman and took first place at the 1989 College Mascot Championships. After graduation, Meers was brought on board as Fred Bird with the St. Louis Cardinals, but the rigorous schedule of Major League Baseball left little breathing room. When Meers departed with the MLB, his next venture would define his career.

In June of 1990, Meers was something of an experiment for the Kansas City Chiefs. They designed a costume hoping to find someone to fill the size-23 shoes of the KC Wolf as their first full-time, local mascot. Meers quickly put his experience with Truman to work, becoming the Energizer Bunny of the Chiefs fanbase. He was the first NFL mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame and is the only mascot in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Meers is also the author of two books: “Mascot on a Mission” and “Wolves Can’t Fly.” The first is a reflection on Meers’ worldwide philanthropic efforts and living a purposeful life. The second is an autobiography sharing the journey of his career. The profits from both books are all donated to philanthropies of Meers’ choice. Suzy Thompson gave Meers’ books out to her own Trumans, saying, “Meers is the cream of the crop.”

“Wolves Can’t Fly” was penned during Meers’ recovery from a stunt accident that almost ended his life. He fell 75 feet while practicing a zipline stunt at Arrowhead Stadium, resulting in broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a shattered tailbone. While most would hang up the suit at this point, Meers wanted to return to the field as soon as he could. “I’d been KC Wolf for 24 years,” he says. “Who wants to stop at 24 when 25 is right there?”

Meers persisted as KC Wolf for another 11 years before announcing his retirement this July. He hopes to be a “full time grandpa, part time mascot” by filling in for KC Wolf whenever the Chiefs need him. Meers gained national recognition for his incredible work as KC Wolf, solidifying himself as an immovable piece of Missouri culture. But we know his roots as Truman the Tiger.

When asked what he missed most about Columbia, Meers put it simply: “I miss the pizza.”

As for the future, Truman isn’t going anywhere or changing course. Mizzou Athletics says Truman is continually improving and preserving the legacy started so many years ago. “Truman stays very tried and true,” current head cheer coach Cynthia Metz says. “He’s an ambassador and the face of Mizzou. He’s always there.”

Metz says the athletes — cheerleaders and Truman alike — are constantly preparing for the upcoming season to turn up the spirit. Metz is a firm believer that you get out what you put in and says her athletes strive for excellence. “Sometimes people have a preconceived notion of what a cheerleader or a mascot is,” Metz says. “They’re athletes; they train and should be recognized not as fluff on the sidelines, but as athletes. We hope people see that when they come to games.”

With the hectic schedule Truman follows, Lyman used to refer to the often last-minute need for a Truman appearance as the “black-and-gold phone.” And when it rang, Truman needed to be somewhere as his bright, energetic self. Lyman, who hasn’t worn the Truman suit since 2007, considered only for a second what he would do if he heard the phone ring decades later. “If the black-and-gold phone rang right now, I’d be gone,” he says. “In a heartbeat, I’d be gone and do it again if I could.”