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).
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.
The "Boxer III" bronze statue sitting on a photocopy machine in Tran Library on the Pacific University campus in 2022. This image plays on the idea that Boxer III was a "copy" of the original Boxer statue. At the time that this photograph was made, the original Boxer had not been seen in public for 53 years.
The "Boxer III" bronze statue (middle, steel-colored) sitting in between a larger decorated Boxer statue (created mid-2000s) and a small rubber replica of the "Boxer II" statue. This photograph was taken in the atrium of Tran Library on the Pacific University campus in 2022.
The "Boxer III" bronze statue on a plain white background. This photograph was created between 2018-2022, and was edited to delete the background so that the image could be more easily used for outreach purposes. Boxer III was made and donated to Pacific University in 2018.
Two wax casts of "Boxer III" in the studio of the sculptor, Pat Castello. Creating a wax cast is an intermediate step in the process of creating a bronze sculpture: After making a clay model, the clay is wrapped in a mold, from which a wax cast is made. The wax casts are corrected and given finer details by the scupltor, who then chooses the best example, creates another mold around it, and then pours bronze into the mold. The wax melts out of the mold, leaving the bronze behind as the final stage of the sculpture.
The rubber and caster plast of "Boxer III," which has been cut open in preparation for the next phase of work on the sculpture, in the studio of Pat Costello.
Pat Costello working on the mold of "Boxer III" in his studio. A finished clay version of the sculpture is being wrapped in a rubber-like substance and then covered in plaster to create a mold from which the next phase of the sculpture would be cast.
Preparatory work on the mold of "Boxer III" in the sculptor Pat Costello's studio. A finished clay version of the sculpture is being wrapped in a rubber-like substance in preparation for the creation of a plaster cast, from which the next phase of the sculpture would be made.
Sculptor Pat Costello building the armature (or skeleton) of "Boxer III." A life-size reference image is posted behind his work table, while a diagram is visible under the armature, showing the intended dimensions of the finished sculpture.
Sculptor Pat Costello displays the armature (or skeleton) of "Boxer III," while holding a reference image on which he has written notes and calculations. The armature will be used to support the first form of the sculpture in clay. A diagram is visible under the armature, showing the intended dimensions of the finished sculpture.
An audio recording of an oral history of Bruce Bishop, Pacific University Class of 1968, recounting memories of his time at Pacific as a college student. The main topic of the recording is Bruce's memories of Pacific University's mascot, Boxer, including: the Boxer "Toss" and "Flash" events; the original Boxer statue's disappearance in 1969 and Bruce's involvement in its recovery over 50 years later in 2024; his involvement in commissioning the Boxer III replica in 2018; and the theft and recovery of Boxer III from Tran Library in 2019. Bruce also discusses: being at Pacific during the political events of the late 1960s; meeting his wife at Pacific; Pacific's dining hall being moved from McCormick Hall to Washburne Hall; connections with fraternities including his own, Gamma Sigma; and his opinions on what "Boxer Spirit" means for Pacific students.
