A photograph of the original "Boxer" statue taken on the day when it was returned to Pacific University on February 21, 2024. This image shows Boxer's left side, with a clear view of the damage that the statue had sustained in past "Boxer Tosses", as well as dozens of marks that past alumni had etched into its side. The statue is flanked by family photographs in the place where it was posed, in the home of alumni John Howard (Class of 1972) and JoAnn Howard (Class of 1974) in Ojai, California.
Pat Costello, the artist who sculpted "Boxer III," posing with his creation. This photograph was taken at a special event for those who helped to conceive, fund and create the new statue, held in Tran Library during Homecoming and Reunion weekend, Oct. 19, 2018. Boxer III was a replica of the university's original "Boxer" statue, which had been missing for nearly 50 years when this event took place.
Pacific University cheerleaders posing with the "Boxer III" statue, just after its official unveiling at a pep rally held on the patio of Washburn Hall on Homecoming and Reunion weekend, October 19, 2018. Boxer III was a replica of the university's original "Boxer" statue, which had been missing for nearly 50 years when this event took place.
Pacific University students, staff and alumni presenting the "Boxer III" statue to the Pacific community. This picture was taken during its official unveiling at a pep rally held on the patio of Washburn Hall on Homecoming and Reunion weekend, October, 19, 2018. From left to right, those pictured are: Adam Louie (Class of 2021), Vicki Lee (Class of 2019), Coach Keith Buckley, President Lesley Hallick, Monica Wolf Marvin (Class of 1968), and Scott Pike (Class of 1968, OD 1970). Boxer III was a replica of the university's original "Boxer" statue, which had been missing for nearly 50 years when this event took place.
Pacific University students, staff and alumni lifting the cover off the "Boxer III" statue during its official unveiling. This event took place at a pep rally held on the patio of Washburn Hall on Homecoming and Reunion weekend, October, 19, 2018. From left to right, those pictured are: Adam Louie (Class of 2021), Vicki Lee (Class of 2019), Coach Keith Buckley (barely visible behind the cover), President Lesley Hallick, Monica Wolf Marvin (Class of 1968), and Scott Pike (Class of 1968, OD 1970).
Three Pacific University alumni and a member of the university's staff examining the newly-unveiled "Boxer III" statue. This photograph was taken at a special event for those who helped to conceive, fund and create the new statue, held in Tran Library during Homecoming and Reunion weekend, Oct. 19, 2018. From left to right, those pictured are: George Kurtz (Class of 1958), Steve Griffels (Class of 1964), Bruce Bishop (Class of 1968), and Zack Wallace, University Advancement officer. Boxer III was a replica of the university's original "Boxer" statue, which had been missing for nearly 50 years when this event took place. Boxer III's back, rarely photographed, is clearly visible in this image.
Pacific University President Lesley Hallick and five Pacific University alumni posing with the "Boxer III" statue. This photograph was taken at an unveiling event in Tran Library during Homecoming and Reunion weekend, Oct. 19, 2018. From left to right, those pictured are: Bruce Bishop (Class of 1968), Bob Dernedde (Class of 1961), Steve Griffels (Class of 1964), George Kurtz (Class of 1958), Jerry Frye (Class of 1961), and President Lesley Hallick. These alumni were among those who conceived and helped fund the creation of Boxer III, which was a replica of the university's original "Boxer" statue. As of 2018, the original Boxer had been missing for nearly 50 years.
Five Pacific University alumni posing with the "Boxer III" statue at an unveiling event in Tran Library during Homecoming and Reunion weekend, Oct. 19, 2018. From left to right, the alumni pictured are: Bruce Bishop (Class of 1968), Steve Griffels (Class of 1964), Bob Dernedde (Class of 1961), George Kurtz (Class of 1958), and Jerry Frye (Class of 1961). These alumni were among those who conceived and helped fund the creation of Boxer III, which was a replica of the university's original "Boxer" statue. At the time this photograph was taken, the original Boxer had been missing since 1969.
The "Boxer III" statue on display in Tran Library at the Pacific University campus on the day of its official unveiling, October 19, 2018. Boxer III was a replica of Pacific University's original "Boxer" statue, a bronze statue that was the inspiration for its mascot. This photograph was taken at a brunch reception for alumni, predominantly from the Class of 1968, who supported the creation of the replica.
An anonymous handwritten note left behind by Pacific University students who took Boxer III from its display case in Tran Library on January 16, 2019. The students, who stated they were trying to "breathe new life into the tradition of the Boxer," returned the statue to the university several hours later, after it became clear that several cameras had captured footage of the removal. The students involved later told a reporter that they "penned the note while wearing gloves and using their non-dominant hand, then sealed it in a plastic bag" (See: "The Boxer Bandits," The Index, Oct. 12, 2023).
An archival gelatin/silver print of Oppapago mountain (also known as Sheep Mountain) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range taken by American fine art photographer John Wimberley.
Printed in 2011, edition #1, print #10/100, negative #741008B
An acrylic painting signed "A. de Vries," depicting multicolored flowers (possibly dahlias) in a blue vase on a dark / blue colored background. Notes on the back state "Sept Flower Valley Art 1972" and "Mrs. Boyd". This is one of four identically signed and framed paintings of flowers by de Vries, all of which depict flowers of a particular month. They may have been produced as part of the Valley Art organization in Forest Grove.
An acrylic painting signed "A. de Vries," depicting multicolored flowers (possibly dahlias) in a blue vase on a dark / blue colored background. Notes on the back state "Sept Flower Valley Art 1972" and "Mrs. Boyd". This is one of four identically signed and framed paintings of flowers by de Vries, all of which depict flowers of a particular month. They may have been produced as part of the Valley Art organization in Forest Grove.
An acrylic painting signed "A. de Vries," depicting white lilies-of-the-valley in a teal vase on dark / teal colored background. Notes on the back state "May Flower Valley Art 1972", "Mrs. Boyd" and "73-37". This is one of four identically signed and framed paintings of flowers by de Vries, all of which depict flowers of a particular month. They may have been produced as part of the Valley Art organization in Forest Grove.
An acrylic painting signed "A. de Vries," depicting white daffodils in a teal vase on a warm-to-dark colored background. Notes on the back state "March Flower Valley Art 1972", "Mrs. Boyd" and "73-[illegible]". This is one of four identically signed and framed paintings of flowers by de Vries, all of which depict flowers of a particular month. They may have been produced as part of the Valley Art organization in Forest Grove.
An acrylic painting signed "A. de Vries," depicting purple flowers in a purple vase on a dark background. Notes on the back state "Feb Flowers Valley 1972" and "Mrs. Boyd 72-9." This is one of four identically signed and framed paintings of flowers by de Vries, all of which depict flowers of a particular month. They may have been produced as part of the Valley Art organization in Forest Grove.
Unedited video footage of Pacific University President Jennifer Coyle as she sees, for the first time, the university's original "Boxer" statue on February 21, 2024. The video shows Coyle walking into the home of John Howard (wearing maroon t-shirt; Class of 1972) and JoAnn Howard (Class of 1974 ) in Ojai, California. The Howards had received Boxer from a third party who had possession of the statue for the previous 55 years. Coyle (University President; Class of 1990; OD 1993) sees and holds Boxer for the first time. Coyle was also an alumnus and had heard stories about the statue for decades, but had never seen or touched the original before this recording. Others present in the recording include Bruce Bishop (wearing plaid, Class of 1968); Gary Reynolds (wearing grey, Class of 1972?); and Blake Timm (holding the camera, Pacific's Associate Director of Communications, Class of 1998).
An article from The Index, Pacific University's student newspaper, describing how the Boxer II statue was stolen in March, 2008 just before a planned quiz content would have awarded it to a current student. Boxer II was a replica of the original "Boxer" statue, which was also Pacific University's mascot. There was a tradition of hiding, stealing and fighting over the statue as a symbol of college spirit. Members of the Gamma Sigma fraternity were holding Boxer II and planning to pass it on to current students, but it went missing before the quiz could take place.
Pacific University student Ken Colman (Class of 1984) holding the "Boxer II" statue, probably in 1983 or 1984. Boxer II was a replica of the original "Boxer" statue, which was also Pacific University's mascot. There was a tradition of hiding, stealing and fighting over the statue as a symbol of college spirit. In Colman's memory, the "Men of Mac Hall" (i.e. residents of McCormick Hall) won control of Boxer II around that time period, and this photograph was taken "in the Head Resident’s apartment." This photograph was donated in digital format to the Pacific University Archives in 2025.
A newspaper article from The Oregonian titled "School's Tradition Questioned," regarding a "Boxer Toss" which occurred on Pacific University's campus on October 16, 1969. This would be the last time that the original Boxer statue was seen in public for 55 years, until it was returned in 2024. The article describes how the Alpha Zeta fraternity "threw out" Boxer into a crowd of students who fought over it. This had been a tradition at Pacific University for decades. However, this Boxer Toss took place one day after anti-Vietnam activists had organized a "Peace Moratorium" march in Forest Grove. The article describes how several students involved in organizing the march opposed the tradition as violent and antiquated.
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. This was the first-ever time when all three Boxer statues were brought together at once.
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), wearing a maroon t-shirt in in the background, was one of the last students to "throw out" the original Boxer statue in a "Boxer Toss." Bruce Bishop (Class of 1968), pointing the camera, 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. Others pictured in this photograph include: Frank Baldwin (Class of 1967), wearing a baseball cap; Gerry Frye (Class of 1962), wearing red and black; and Scott Pike (Class of 1969, OD 1970) , in the foreground, next to the Boxers.
A photograph clipping from a newspaper, showing Pacific University student Bruce Fleskes retrieving "Boxer II" from where it was stashed in a tree on campus. This photograph is dated April 13, 1983. This was the first public appearance of the statue. Boxer II was a replica of Pacific University's original "Boxer" statue, which had been missing since 1969. There was a tradition of hiding, stealing and fighting over Boxer as a trophy representing college spirit. In 1982-3, students commissioned sculptor Pat Costello to create Boxer II as a replacement for the original missing statue. Just before this photograph was taken, the students who had commissioned the replica hid it in the tree and then announced to the campus that Boxer was back. Students like Bruce Fleske searched for Boxer II, found it, and then took it away, continuing the tradition.
