Three versions of Boxer, the statue that serves as Pacific University's mascot: the original bronze Boxer, which Pacific first acquired in the late 1890s (gold-colored, center); the second casting of Boxer II, created in 1983 (back, grey-green); and Boxer III, created in 2018 (front, lighter grey). The original Boxer had been missing between 1969-2024, when it was finally returned to the university. The first casting of Boxer II had been missing since the mid-2000s, but a second casting had just been returned to Pacific a few weeks before this event. The three statues are on a cart, being transported to their first-ever appearance together at a gathering of Gamma Sigma fraternity alumni on June 29, 2025. The photograph was taken by Martha Calus-McLain (Class of 2023), Pacific's Alumni Director.
Alumni members of Pacific University's Gamma Sigma fraternity visiting with three versions of the statue that serves as Pacific University's mascot: the original bronze Boxer, which Pacific first acquired in the late 1890s (gold-colored, left); the second casting of Boxer II, created in 1983 (middle, dark grey); and Boxer III, created in 2018 (right, lighter grey). The original Boxer had been missing between 1969-2024, when it was finally returned to the university. The first casting of Boxer II had been missing since the mid-2000s, but a second casting had just been returned to Pacific a few weeks before this event. Several of the alumni in this photograph remembered seeing the original Boxer before it went missing, and were also among those who raised funds to create Boxer III. Pete Truax (Class of 1969), standing by the three Boxers, was one of the last students to "throw out" the original Boxer statue in a "Boxer Toss." Bruce Bishop (Class of 1968), pointing a camera at Truax, was one of the most active in the commissioning of Boxer III. The photograph was taken by Martha Calus-McLain (Class of 2023), Pacific's Alumni Director, who had seen the original Boxer II when it was on campus. This was the first-ever event where all three Boxer statues were brought together at one time.
The "Boxer III" bronze statue sitting on a photocopy machine in Tran Library on the Pacific University campus in 2022. This image plays on the idea that Boxer III was a "copy" of the original Boxer statue. At the time that this photograph was made, the original Boxer had not been seen in public for 53 years.
The "Boxer III" bronze statue (middle, steel-colored) sitting in between a larger decorated Boxer statue (created mid-2000s) and a small rubber replica of the "Boxer II" statue. This photograph was taken in the atrium of Tran Library on the Pacific University campus in 2022.
The "Boxer III" bronze statue on a plain white background. This photograph was created between 2018-2022, and was edited to delete the background so that the image could be more easily used for outreach purposes. Boxer III was made and donated to Pacific University in 2018.
Two wax casts of "Boxer III" in the studio of the sculptor, Pat Castello. Creating a wax cast is an intermediate step in the process of creating a bronze sculpture: After making a clay model, the clay is wrapped in a mold, from which a wax cast is made. The wax casts are corrected and given finer details by the scupltor, who then chooses the best example, creates another mold around it, and then pours bronze into the mold. The wax melts out of the mold, leaving the bronze behind as the final stage of the sculpture.
The rubber and caster plast of "Boxer III," which has been cut open in preparation for the next phase of work on the sculpture, in the studio of Pat Costello.
Pat Costello working on the mold of "Boxer III" in his studio. A finished clay version of the sculpture is being wrapped in a rubber-like substance and then covered in plaster to create a mold from which the next phase of the sculpture would be cast.
Preparatory work on the mold of "Boxer III" in the sculptor Pat Costello's studio. A finished clay version of the sculpture is being wrapped in a rubber-like substance in preparation for the creation of a plaster cast, from which the next phase of the sculpture would be made.
Sculptor Pat Costello building the armature (or skeleton) of "Boxer III." A life-size reference image is posted behind his work table, while a diagram is visible under the armature, showing the intended dimensions of the finished sculpture.
Sculptor Pat Costello displays the armature (or skeleton) of "Boxer III," while holding a reference image on which he has written notes and calculations. The armature will be used to support the first form of the sculpture in clay. A diagram is visible under the armature, showing the intended dimensions of the finished sculpture.
