Historic Overview of Tom Mix the Grey College 1st XV Rugby Mascot.
Tom Mix 2018
The electronic image version of Tom Mix
1924-1927
On a historic team photo of Grey 1st XV Rugby team Tom Mix the mascot of the rugby team makes its first appearance, along with legends like Sarel Marais, Jim Wansbury & International famous writer Sir Laurens van der Post.
1924 Johan “Glib” van Aarde started his teachings & coach of 1st XV rugby team at Grey. He used to ride to school on his motorbike coupled with his broad rimmed hat & how he handled the start pistol at athletics meetings he later earned the nickname of Hollywood cowboy, Tom Mix.
Oom Sarel Marais the captained the 1927 first team had the following to say about Glib van Aarde “Tom Mix! Ai, Tom Mix, kon jy werklik sterwe? Jy was dan so onvernietigbaar, so genadeloos. Jy het alles gevra, alles gegee. Jy het ons geslaan, gevloek, partymaal selfs geskop. Eniedere maal het ons rondgekyk of die ander sien watter eer ons te beur val. Tom Mix, ons het jou aanbid.”
Hence from 1927 the teddy bear mascot was named Tom Mix.
Age has resulted in more youthful bears replacing the original, but Tom Mix is forever next to rugby fields of the world, supporting the Grey 1st XV & touched by generations of rugby stars as they run onto the field.
Grey 1st XV Rugby 1924
