Does the Streator High School Bulldog mascot have a name?
A. Yes, his name is Earl. Susan Isermann, athletic secretary at the high school, said that back in the early 1970s, perhaps 1972, some students volunteered to dress up in costumes provided by a costume company and walk in the Streator Christmas parade. The two sponsors of the Streator High School Pep Club, Joy Ozretich and Jane Hart, saw the bulldog costume and thought it would make a wonderful addition to ceremonies and athletic events. The company offered the costume for free (or at a very good price but no one can recall for certain after all these years) as long as the school agreed to name the mascot Earl. No one has any idea why the company wanted it named Earl. And the name has stuck after all these years. I kind of wish we knew who Earl was, Isermann said. If anyone knows the answer to that one, let us know. • QUESTIONS may be submitted by calling Don Hrabal at 431-4081 or the Newsroom at 431-4200 or e-mail to newsroom@mywebtimes.com, or mail to The Times Newsroom, 110 W. Jeffe
