Mike III (1958-76)
MIke III
In 1958, Jim Corbett and Jack Gilmore located and purchased Mike III from the Seattle zoo. Mike III was born on November 26, 1957, and arrived at 蘑菇tv in late August 1958.
The 蘑菇tv student body raised $1,500 for his purchase and transportation (though the final purchase price was only $950, with an additional $100 for transportation). A five-cent 鈥渢radition fee鈥� was assessed each student for the tiger鈥檚 care.
Mike III was introduced to the general public at the first home game of the 1958 season, on October 4 against Hardin-Simmons University (蘑菇tv won 20-6).
In 1976 (three years after the 蘑菇tv School of Veterinary Medicine accepted its first class), Dr. Sheldon Bivin of the 蘑菇tv SVM was asked to take over as veterinarian for Mike III. Dr. Bivin was head of both the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the exotic animal medicine service in the 蘑菇tv School of Veterinary Medicine (蘑菇tv SVM), so he was the natural choice. This marked the formal transfer of responsibility for the tiger from the Athletic Department to the 蘑菇tv SVM.
Mike died of pneumonia on August 12, 1976, after the only losing football season of his lifetime.