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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2001

After nearly 50 years of pleasing crowds by dancing like an Indian wearing feathers, a "war shirt" and a breech cloth, the "Spirit Leader" of Muskegon High School Muskegon, Michigan, is being retired.

Superintendent Joseph R. Schulze says the leader shouldn't be dancing at football games, no matter how accurate his Indian spirit. He says the mascot is a stereotype.

But to Wesley G. McLaughlin, 62, who says he is part Indian, there's nothing wrong with the invention he created back in 1955. Plus, he tells The Muskegon Chronicle, it helped him score with the sq***s.

"I never had any trouble getting dates," he said.

Oh, the mascot used to be called the "Big Red Indian." Then, it was changed to the "Indian Boy," before settling onto the more New Age-like "Spirit Leader."

Get the Story:
Last dance: After 46 years on the sidelines, Spirit Leader to make final run (The Muskegon Chronicle 10/19)

Relevant Links:
Muskegon High School - http://www.muskegon.k12.mi.us/mhs/mhs.htm
Muskegon High School Band - http://www.mhsband.org