ESU celebrates Paul Edwards’ legacy

ESU has declared today Paul Edwards Day, in honor of the 1937 graduate who created Emporia State’s mascot, Corky the Hornet. Edwards died last Friday, March 9. He was 103.

All flags on ESU’s campus will be flown at half-staff today, from sunrise to sundown, in honor of Edwards, according to an email sent out by President Garrett announcing the celebration of his legacy. 

“Paul Edwards was dedicated to his family, his country and Emporia State University,” according to Tyler Curtis, associate vice president for outreach and engagement. “He loved his alma mater and his wish was that Corky could be used to keep Hornet Nation’s spirit alive and growing.”

Edwards created Corky in 1933 for a campus-wide competition for the creation of a new college mascot. Another student had originally won with a realistic drawing of a hornet, but Edwards didn’t think realism was right for a mascot, according to an edition of ESU’s Spotlight magazine from 2009. 

Corky went through a redesign, with four legs and a huge mouth, and was submitted to the contest. The two mascots then went into The Bulletin for a student vote, with Corky coming out as the winner, according to Spotlight. 

The mascot got his name from the personality that Edwards had been giving him in cartoons he was drawing for The Bulletin. According to Edwards, he was “always popping off” like a cork and “making comments about stuff that was happening on campus,” and so, Corky was named. 

Corky has gone through several redesigns, all by Edwards, that result in the current mascot. ESU’s current Corky was designed in the 2000s, according to the timeline in the Memorial Union. 

“There’s so much history about the way Corky originated and the efforts that Paul Edwards did to transpire who he is today,” said Jose Feliciano, director of alumni relations. “I think the thing we need to do is celebrate the legacy he left, the spirit of Corky.”

According to Feliciano, Corky is the legacy that Edwards has left for ESU.

“He’s given us Corky,” Feliciano said. “Corky provides spirit, excitement, energy and a spirit of goodness.”

To honor the spirit that Edwards “ignited through Corky,” students are encouraged to wear Corky, ESU, or black and gold spirit gear tomorrow, according to Garrett’s email. There will also be a photo booth available in the Memorial Union and photos can be posted to the Alumni Association Facebook page.

“Though Paul Edwards may have passed, his legacy of creating Corky and thus unifying Emporia State University will endure forever,” said Megan McReynolds, ASG president and junior sociology major. “We thank him for his service and time spent as ESU.”