George Tirebiter was the nickname initially given to a dog at the University of Southern California in the 1940s who was the unofficial mascot of the school before becoming the official mascot on October 22, 1947. The nickname was passed on to George Tirebiter's subsequent successors after the original Tirebiter's death in 1950. The original Tirebiter was a nationally known figure and beloved canine of the University of Southern California. He would lead the marching band out at home football games and once even entered in an armored car. Tirebiter was kidnapped, or thought to have been kidnapped, multiple times by the University of Southern California's rival the University of California, Los Angeles , USC student politicians for publicity, and once possibly by a newspaper. The line of Tirebiters lasted through 1961 when the legacy of the Tirebiter mascots was replaced with Traveler , the white Andalusian horse ridden by a Trojan rider at USC home football games and various other university events.
80-408: There exists a wide range of possible stories for Tirebiter's origin. One claims that a stray dog was discovered by a group of USC students at Currie's Ice Cream parlor and that one student remarked that the dog looked like a Navy V-12 student named George Kuhns. Thus, the dog was dubbed "George". Another story was that the dog was the pet of a local couple and that he was initially named "Leo". When
160-481: A Trojan Knight in 1960 to arrange campus speaking engagements with then-presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy . The Knights have gained national visibility as a result of their activities during each fall's football season. Knights have been featured on ESPN's College GameDay body-painting with the school colors and letters spelling out messages. More recently, they gained national attention when caught on camera while Anav Saxena (painted with
240-442: A cardinal and gold doghouse around the statue to protect it from possible vandalism. The plaque on the statue reads: George Tirebiter was a shaggy mutt who - for a few glorious years in the '40s and '50s - became a beloved Trojan mascot. No one is quite sure when George wandered onto campus, but his feisty personality made him a student favorite as he chased cars and bit tires along University Avenue, not far from where you stand. He
320-467: A female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. Of all households, 18.8% were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.2 and the average family size was 3.7. In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
400-459: A job. Kelly stated that unemployment fraud does not account for all of the issues with the El Centro area; he said that many residents have a lack of education and a lack of English language proficiency, so some of them cannot find jobs. The Economist added that the collapse of the housing market eliminated some construction jobs; the magazine countered that the scenario is true in many places in
480-482: A memorial wreath was laid and a trumpeter played "Taps" as the campus said farewell to its beloved canine mascot. The day before the memorial ceremony for Tirebiter I, plans were already being made to find a successor of some sort for the mascot. A ballot was printed in the Daily Trojan with choices of "George Jr. , Other Animal, Statue of George, or Other Object.". Nominations of all sorts began to pour in from
560-401: A nearby stable. On September 28, it was announced that George Tirebiter II would be the official successor to Tirebiter I. The final vote in the student body senate was guided by Tirebiter II's victory in the Daily Trojan student poll 800 votes to Hector's 518. It is a remarkable increase in voting in one day that finally decided the winner. Tirebiter II's candidacy was most likely aided by
640-635: A precedent for what has become a long USC tradition of equine mascots. The Knights later received national media attention after the "Westwood Sucks" card stunt incident. During the 1971 ABC broadcast of the USC-UCLA rivalry game , only the middle part of a Knights-organized card stunt meant to read "Why do people go to UCLA? Westwood sucks...them in" made the air. Throughout this time, Knights were also involved in arranging and hosting university events not related to athletics. In his memoir, Awakening Waves , Alumnus Richard LeVine recalls using his position as
720-576: A showdown between "George Tirebiter II" and "Hector the Trojan Horse" after the withdrawal of Sully, the Delta Tau Delta boxer. Although Hector was leading by a slim margin of 36 votes, possible financial problems with Hector were reported by the Daily Trojan . They calculated that it would be considerably more expensive to have an equine mascot than a canine mascot. This was due to Hector not being owned by USC, but rather being rented from
800-709: A small piece of chewed tire and is located at the south end of campus on Trousdale Parkway between the Mudd Hall of Philosophy and the Leventhal School of Accounting. George is facing Exposition Park and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum : the home stadium for USC Trojans football. During "Troy Week", the week before the annual rivalry football game against UCLA, the Trojan Knights, with the help of USC facilities management, erect
880-666: A spotted Palomino horse had been entered into the race by the Trovets, a spirit and service organization. Floyd McCann, president of the Trovets, claimed, "We feel that Hector the Trojan Horse is a much more dignified and appropriate symbol of SC tradition than some dog. George was a character in his own right and voluntarily adopted the Trojans. But we don't believe he can be replaced by draft methods." This quote, now seems quite prescient in light of USC's adopting its iconic mascot Traveler (mascot) in 1961. On September 26, it became
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#1732793559768960-620: A total area of 11.1 square miles (29 km ), of which over 99% is land. El Centro is located in the Imperial Valley (considered locally as synonymous with Imperial County ). The city is 50 feet (15 m) below sea level and the largest city in the United States below sea level. The Imperial Valley is in the Colorado Desert , an extension of the larger Sonoran Desert . The agriculture industry's demand for water
1040-410: Is 98 °F (37 °C), recorded on August 30, 1976. The mean for the hottest night annually is at 87.2 °F (30.7 °C). As of 2009 the employment of El Centro residents is dominated by the local government, California state government, and federal government. Two nearby prisons ( Centinela and Calipatria ) and a U.S. Border Patrol station provide employment; The Economist states that
1120-401: Is almost totally unknown in the area. However, on December 12, 1934, a very powerful winter storm brought record cold and snowfall to El Centro and surrounding areas of the Imperial Valley . Snow began falling at 8:45 p.m. December 11 and by 5 a.m. the next day (December 12) 1 to 4 inches (25 to 102 mm) of snow had blanketed the desert floor. Another instance of freezing precipitation
1200-408: Is also credited with numerous other contributions to USC's spirit activities including coaching both USCs Song Girls and the now-defunct USC Yell Leaders and, along with fellow founder Harry Pryor, the introduction of organized card stunts at football games in 1922. In the early years, the organization's recruiting process was systematically tied to that of the university's Greek fraternities, and
1280-438: Is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Opportunities to attend college are available through Imperial Valley College , a local 2-year college, and an extension of San Diego State University located in the nearby city of Calexico . San Diego State University's Calexico Campus offers a variety of bachelor's and master's degrees. There are three major highways that serve El Centro. Interstate 8 connects San Diego to
1360-706: Is in USC possession. Beyond their work as a spirit organization, the Knights participate at many on- and off-campus events and causes at USC. The Knights work alongside their sister organization, the USC Helenes , as well as other USC student organizations, fraternities, sororities and athletic teams at USC's annual "Swim With Mike" philanthropy event. According to the group's website, they also host other social and philanthropic events including an annual Fall philanthropy fundraiser known as "Tirebiter Run" that raises funds for
1440-437: Is only open to foot traffic.) The first George Tirebiter was for a period of around six years the unofficial mascot of USC. He was notable for chasing down passing cars and nipping at their wheels. The lovable shaggy mutt quickly endeared himself to the student body. He was pampered by the fraternities and sororities in USC's Greek community, routinely being carried back and forth from campus and being fed ice cream. In 1947,
1520-516: Is still the largest industry in Imperial County and accounts for 48% of all employment. Being the commercial center of Imperial County, fifty percent of the jobs in the El Centro come from the service and retail sector. A recent growth in the interest of Imperial County as a filming location, has spurred growth in servicing this industry. Due to its desert environment and proximity to Los Angeles, California, movies are sometimes filmed in
1600-530: Is supplied by canals diverting water from the nearby Colorado River . The Salton Sea was created after a 1905 flood from the Colorado River. The El Centro earthquake of 1940 had a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It was the first major earthquake to be recorded by a strong-motion seismograph located next to a fault rupture. It
1680-877: Is the primary provider of mass transportation in the Imperial Valley. Formed in 1989 with just 3 buses and serving just 3,000 people per month, the agency now currently serves more than 73,000 riders within the area per month. Through a partnership between the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC), the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA), and the Quechan Indian Tribe, Yuma County Area Transit Turquoise Route 10 buses stop at El Centro locations and connects
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#17327935597681760-586: The Imperial Valley , the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region , and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also the most populous U.S. city to lie entirely below sea level (−42 feet or −13 meters). The city, located in southeastern California, is 113 miles (182 km) from San Diego and less than 20 miles (32 km) from
1840-584: The USC-UCLA rivalry game in 1941, six Trojan Knights (also members of the Sig Ep fraternity) discreetly plotted and carried out what is now politely referred to as the 'appropriation' of the Victory Bell from the UCLA sidelines. After a year-long prank war between the schools and threats by the administration to cancel that year's game, the bell was returned and subsequently made the official rivalry trophy of
1920-591: The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is officially dedicated to "Brotherhood, Service, & Spirit" and its members have been recognized by USC as the "Official Hosts of the University" and "Guardians of Tradition." The group has been a part of many university traditions and remains active in on- and off-campus events and causes. While not a traditional Greek fraternity ,
2000-549: The "Keep Kids Safe" campaign of "A Better LA". In addition, Knights work as volunteer staff during various university-hosted events. Famous alumni of the organization include actors John Wayne and Tom Selleck , who were also both members of Sigma Chi , Disneyland's First President Jack Lindquist , the "winningest" college baseball coach of all time Raoul "Rod" Dedeaux , Yehuda Potash, Nevada Senator Dean A. Heller , Richard Nixon's USC Mafia Members Donald H. Segretti and Dwight Chapin , and real estate developer and Chairman of
2080-531: The Board of Trustees of the University of Southern California Rick J. Caruso . The officially recognized sister organization of the Trojan Knights is the USC Helenes , known as the "Official Hostesses of the University." El Centro, California El Centro ( Spanish for "The Center") is a city and county seat of Imperial County, California , United States. El Centro is the most populous city in
2160-536: The Caribbean. This leads to daily thunderstorms that can bring hail, downpours, lightning, and dust storms, more commonly known as Haboob . During the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, remnants of hurricanes or tropical storms may track through the desert and can result in heavy thunderstorms. This can lead to significantly higher than normal precipitation, at times bringing heavy rain. The precipitation in
2240-554: The Mexican city of Mexicali . The city was founded in 1906 by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker, who purchased the land on which El Centro was eventually built for about $ 40 per acre ($ 100 per hectare) and invested $ 100,000 ($ 3,400,000 in 2023 dollars ) in improvements. The modern city is home to retail, transportation, wholesale, and agricultural industries. There are also two international border crossings nearby for commercial and noncommercial vehicles. El Centro's census population as of 2020
2320-543: The Trojan Knights have many characteristics similar to fraternities, including their emphasis on brotherhood. The Trojan Knights currently involve themselves in several service events including the USC founded "Swim with Mike," benefiting a scholarship for disabled persons aspiring to attend college, and the annual "Trojan Knights Carnival," a carnival held on Los Angeles's Skid Row benefiting the children of those families. The Knights were founded in 1921 by USC students Harry Pryor, Harry Kennedy, and Lindley Bothwell . Bothwell
2400-515: The United States. In December 2008 listed as No. 5 on Forbes.com's list of "The Top 10 Places in America Where Homes are Losing their Value Fastest" with 31.4% of homeowners owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. A national report on the effects of the "Great recession" of 2008/09 has found El Centro and the Imperial Valley in the top 5 poorest medium-sized cities in the U.S. in poverty and unemployment rates. While
2480-417: The annual game by contract between the student body presidents of the two universities. In 1946, a Knight rescued a dog from a Santa Monica beach. A year later, after becoming a common sight around campus, the dog (named George Tirebiter ) would become USC's unofficial mascot. Knights would continue to care for the dog who was later killed in a car crash. A statue honoring the dog's memory currently stands at
George Tirebiter - Misplaced Pages Continue
2560-491: The bite of George Tirebiter. The protagonist of the 1970 Firesign Theatre album Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers was named George Leroy Tirebiter, after the dog, and that album's movie-within-a-play, High School Madness featured a boy named Porgy Tirebiter. George Leroy Tirebiter appears in other Firesign Theatre works. Trojan Knights The Trojan Knights are a student service and spirit organization at
2640-551: The border frequently. The 2010 United States Census reported that El Centro had a population of 42,598. The population density was 3,838.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,481.9/km ). The racial makeup of El Centro was 25,376 (59.6%) White , 1,081 (2.5%) African American , 554 (1.3%) Native American . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34,751 persons (81.6%), 965 (2.3%) Asian , 34 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 12,356 (29.0%) from other races , and 2,232 (5.2%) from two or more races. The Census reported that 41,782 people (98.1% of
2720-462: The campaign. Don Gibbs, the fraternity president, explained, "We do not feel that a fraternity-owned dog would make a good mascot because of the competition between fraternities. A true mascot must have the complete backing of the entire student body in promoting school athletic spirit. Therefore, we are withdrawing 'Pythagoras'." Additionally on September 25, it was announced that "Hector the Horse",
2800-437: The care of a local animal shelter with the hopes that he would recover. However, his condition did not improve. In early 1950, he no longer even recognized or acknowledged his caretakers. Eddy and George Prussell, former presidents of the Trojan Knights, conferred with Dean of Students Bernard L. Hyink to decide on a solution. They decided to send him to the farm of Bill Hubbard, a Trojan alumnus, in El Centro, California , for
2880-480: The city manager of El Centro, said that if the Mexicali jobs were factored into the employment rate, El Centro would have a normal employment rate. The manager of a job search agency called One Stop, said that about 3,000 people per month come into her agency; she says that some make a genuine effort to find jobs, while many do not have motivation to actually find a job, but to instead show proof that they tried to find
2960-636: The city to Winterhaven, California and Yuma, Arizona . Greyhound Lines provides intercity bus service to El Centro. El Centro operates under a council–manager form of government. The members of the City Council also sit as the Community Development Commission (Commission) and Redevelopment Agency (Agency) governing boards. The City Manager is empowered as the executive director of the Commission and Agency. In
3040-406: The city was 46.9% White , 3.2% Black or African American , 1.0% Native American , 3.5% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 41.7% from other races , and 3.7% from two or more races. 74.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 11,439 households, out of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 18.7% had
3120-516: The couple split the dog was abandoned before being adopted by a local woman, Ann Schreiber. She was supposedly a great lover of dogs who wanted to provide for the lost dog. She named him "George" due to the resemblance he bore to a friend of hers. Another origin story was claimed by Dan Schiavone, president of the Trojan Knights , on the occasion of a memorial ceremony honoring Tirebiter on September 21, 1950. Schiavone claimed that Tirebiter
3200-421: The crust is being stretched, resulting in a sinking of the terrain over time. El Centro has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification : BWh ) and is the southernmost desert city below sea level in the continental United States. It features long, extremely hot summers, and mild winters. El Centro has over 350 days of sunshine and under 3 inches (76 mm) of rain annually. Winter temperatures are in
3280-466: The desert valley floor. In 1906, the land on which El Centro was later built was purchased by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker. In 1907 Imperial County was split off from San Diego County; by then much of the valley was successfully irrigated. Before the town began, the railroad had established a station and named the place Cabarker. The name honored C.A. Barker, a friend of the landowner. The first post office in El Centro opened in 1905. Early growth
George Tirebiter - Misplaced Pages Continue
3360-450: The dog or he would be turned into the pound. In the wake of these events on September 29, 1948, the Trojan Knights decided that they would take responsibility for Tirebiter's housing, food, ownership, legal liability, and transportation. After assuming responsibility for the dog, the Trojan Knights built a doghouse on Bovard Field for him. Due to Tirebiter's loud barking and his proximity to classrooms, numerous professors complained about
3440-405: The early 20th century. Due to its strategic location near rail lines and U.S. Highways 80 and 99, more than 35 growers and shippers still operate in El Centro. However, by the early 1980s the two largest employment sectors in El Centro were government and wholesale/retail trade, reflecting El Centro's emerging role as a regional administrative and commercial center. Imperial Valley Mall opened on
3520-566: The fact that six cities within a twenty-mile radius were all established within one generation. These cities were in a horse race to win the prize of being the Valley's leading city and the intense competition is measured by the fact that it took twenty years to get a county fair started because of strong local loyalties on the County Board of Supervisors. The City of El Centro was incorporated on April 16, 1908. One reason for this rapid growth
3600-669: The field with the marching band and for the length of the game stand in front of the student rooting section. George became further endeared to the student body when he bit UCLA mascot Joe Bruin on the nose at a home football game and chased after Oski, the Golden Bear mascot of the University of California Berkeley, at another home game. In 1948, Tirebiter got into trouble with city health officials because of two incidents of biting people and his semi-stray status. The city presented an ultimatum to USC. They required that someone or some organization assume responsibility and ownership for
3680-468: The financial questions relating to Hector's ownership and upkeep. George Tirebiter II was named the official mascot on September 28, 1950. He made his official debut at a football spirit rally for the USC-Iowa game on September 29. In 2006, USC unveiled a statue celebrating the mascot's memory. The life-size statue portrays George Tirebiter II (although he is often mistaken for George Tirebiter I) with
3760-473: The harvest moves to the north and is no longer in El Centro; in previous eras farmers migrated, while in the first decade of the 21st century many collect unemployment benefits during the summer. El Centro is surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland that has transformed the desert into one of the most productive farming regions in California with an annual crop production of over $ 1 billion. Agriculture
3840-526: The households, 2,458 (18.8%) were made up of individuals, and 1,004 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.19. There were 10,210 families (77.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.64. The population was spread out, with 12,671 people (29.7%) under the age of 18, 4,803 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 10,661 people (25.0%) aged 25 to 44, 9,907 people (23.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,556 people (10.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
3920-430: The letter "G") was using the bathroom, leaving just the letters "Fiht On!" Saxena swiftly hurried back, but not before the incident had made it onto ESPN and a number of other news sources. The Knights are also involved in various "rivalry week" activities surrounding the annual game against UCLA . The Knights stand guard night and day at the base of USC's Tommy Trojan Statue , a common target of past UCLA pranks, for
4000-545: The majority of new members were also members of a Greek-letter fraternity. Emblematic of these early ties is the fact that Lindley Bothwell is also credited with helping to found the USC chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity five years later in 1926, though the national organization ultimately revoked the chapter's charter in 2014 after allegations of both sexual assault and hazing. The Trojan's Knights pillars are Brotherhood, Service, and Spirit. After
4080-417: The majority of the residents in this community are Hispanic, there is a diverse population with a wide array of interests. In the winter, residents race on nearby sand dunes using four-wheel-drive buggies. During the summer, residents spend time indoors instead of outside. Spanish is a dominant language among residents and over the radio. Many area residents live in both the United States and Mexico and go across
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#17327935597684160-443: The mid to high 60s °F (mid to high 10s °C) with over-night lows in the low 40s °F (mid +0s °C) . During summer days of June; typically the driest month of the year with no precipitation, the dry, desert heat can push temperatures well above 100 °F (38 °C), while the nights stay in the high 70s °F (high 20s °C). The North American Monsoon typically increases moisture. At times, the climate can resemble that of tropical areas in
4240-751: The noise and disruption he caused. One professor actually proposed that one student should always be on "Tirebiter duty" to pet the dog and make sure he did not disrupt class. Throughout Tirebiter's time as USC's unofficial and official mascot, many people attempted to describe what kind of dog Tirebiter could possibly be. The most common characterization was that he was merely a pound mutt. Other attempts, even by canine experts, had similarly underwhelming conclusions. A zoology professor described him as "sort of an Airedale Terrier ," but conceded that "it would take another 100 years of breeding to produce another George." In 1949, Tirebiter's already surly nature began to get worse. The Trojan Knights decided to place him in
4320-550: The population) lived in households, 296 (0.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 520 (1.2%) were institutionalized. There were 13,108 households, out of which 6,257 (47.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,550 (50.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,845 (21.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 815 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 804 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 58 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . Of
4400-924: The poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over. In 2009 the Latinos in El Centro mainly consisted of dual citizens and permanent resident card (green card) holders. Illegal immigrants tended to go through Imperial County instead of staying in Imperial County. Within its boundary, there are three school districts – McCabe Union Elementary School District, El Centro School District and Central Union High School District . El Centro has 11 elementary schools, four middle/junior high schools and three high schools: The Central Union High School District includes two four-year comprehensive high schools (Central Union and Southwest) and one alternative education school (Desert Oasis). The school district's 3,450 students are supported by more than 350 certified and classified staff. The District
4480-399: The prisons and border patrol were "relatively untouched" by the late-2000s recession . The El Centro area has many farming plots, where carrots, lettuce, and other crops are produced, and therefore the El Centro economy is subject to seasonal variations like other farming areas. Between November and March in winter periods, El Centro-area farmers harvest lettuce for $ 8–10 per hour. During March
4560-591: The sand dunes outside the agricultural portions of the Imperial County. These have included Return of the Jedi , Stargate , The Scorpion King , Jarhead , Into the Wild , and American Sniper . According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of April 30, 2009, the El Centro area had a 25.0% unemployment rate, the highest for a Metropolitan Area in the country. By August of that year, El Centro's unemployment rate
4640-402: The south end of Trousdale Parkway on the USC campus. The Knights are also linked to the origins of Traveler , the white horse that currently serves as USC's official mascot. Although the first official 'Traveler' did not appear until 1961, a Trojan Knight named Arthur J. Gontier III rode a white horse at a USC football game in 1954. This, along with an earlier appearance by a horse in 1948, set
4720-522: The southeast side of the city in 2005. The nearby Algodones Dunes , the largest dune field in the US, draws thousands of visitors each year, mainly for off-road driving. The Salton Sea lies 30 miles (48 km) north of El Centro, but water sport enthusiasts head to the Colorado River , 50 miles (80 km) to the east near Yuma, Arizona . The El Centro Naval Air Facility 10 miles (16 km) to
4800-436: The southern half remained under Mexican rule. Small scale settlement in natural aquifer areas occurred in the early 19th century (the present-day site of Mexicali ), but most permanent settlement ( Anglo Americans on the U.S. side, Mexicans on the other side) was after 1900. Originally part of San Diego County , the Imperial Valley was settled by farmers once water from the Colorado River was diverted via canals to irrigate
4880-442: The student body urged the student government to designate George Tirebiter as the official mascot of USC. In an elaborate celebration involving a parade of 30 cars, a marching band, and campus celebrities, George Tirebiter was crowned the official mascot of the University of Southern California on October 22, 1947. Shortly after his coronation as official mascot, George Tirebiter was kidnapped by UCLA students on October 30, 1947. He
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#17327935597684960-485: The student body. Through one day of voting, Delta Tau Delta 's pedigreed boxer "Sully" led the voting. Behind him were the Trojan Knights's proposed successor "George Jr.", who they claimed was Tirebiter I's son, and the Acacia fraternity 's bulldog "Pythagoras." In addition to these early leaders, a variety of other canines and memorials were proposed. On September 25, 1950, Acacia decided to withdraw Pythagoras from
5040-485: The summer so that the dog could recover. Sadly, sometime during June 1950, Tirebiter was run over by a passing car on the farm and killed. For the next three months, however, this news was not disseminated to the public. It was not until September 19, 1950, that Tirebiter's fate was known. A Daily Trojan writer routinely asked Dan Schiavone, the president of the Trojan Knights, "How's Tirebiter getting along?" Schiavone responded matter-of-factly, "He's dead." This news
5120-537: The week prior to the game and organize an annual bonfire at which a representation of the UCLA Bruin mascot is burned. In recent years, the Knights have taken to wrapping Tommy Trojan in cellophane, and to building a doghouse around the George Tirebiter statue. The Knights also guard the Victory Bell on game days, and ring it after touchdowns during the first three quarters of all home games when it
5200-529: The west and Yuma, Arizona to the east. State Route 86 and State Route 111 parallel each other as they go north to Brawley before running along the west and east shores of the Salton Sea , respectively, on their way to the Coachella Valley . Going south from El Centro, State Route 86 terminates at State Route 111 , which runs to Calexico and Mexicali, Mexico . Imperial Valley Transit
5280-562: The west is home to the annual Blue Angels flight maneuvering event. Stark Field is home of a minor league baseball team El Centro Imperials of the Arizona Summer League . Mexico (the border city of Mexicali, Baja California ) is 10 miles (16 km) away, which offers big city amenities like museums, a zoo and a sports/convention center. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has
5360-444: The winter months is predominantly rain showers from the occasional winter storms. At times these storms bring cold temperatures to El Centro and surrounding cities, and mountain snowfall to the nearby Mountains. El Niño and La Niña play a large role in how much rain falls in the winter, La Nina typically brings drier and cooler conditions to El Centro and surrounding areas. El Niño tends to being wetter and average temperatures. Snow
5440-790: Was 27.5%, three times the overall United States unemployment rate of 9.7%. The Economist stated that the city is not the "centre of the Great Recession" like the figure would appear to indicate. While El Centro has a seasonal farming economy, there is still a fixed "baseline" unemployment at 12%. Timothy Kelly, the head of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 residents of Mexicali work in El Centro. The Economist added that there are likely many El Centro residents who work in Mexicali and collect unemployment benefits in El Centro; Ruben Duran,
5520-406: Was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 33,161, and the median income for a family was $ 36,910. Males had a median income of $ 36,753 versus $ 24,514 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 13,874. About 20.6% of families and 22.8% of the population were below
5600-416: Was 31.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males. There were 14,476 housing units at an average density of 1,304.3 units per square mile (503.6 units/km ), of which 13,108 were occupied, of which 6,488 (49.5%) were owner-occupied, and 6,620 (50.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate
5680-474: Was 44,322, up from 42,598 at the 2010 Census . Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz was one of the first Europeans to visit the area around El Centro and Imperial Valley in 1540. The explorer Juan Bautista de Anza also explored the area in 1776 (an elementary school in El Centro now bears his name). Years later, after the Mexican–American War , the northern half of the valley was annexed by the U.S., while
5760-469: Was 7.2%. 21,429 people (50.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 20,353 people (47.8%) lived in rental housing units. As of the census of 2000, there were 37,835 people, 11,439 households, and 8,910 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,950.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,525.2/km ). There were 12,263 housing units at an average density of 1,280.3 units per square mile (494.3 units/km ). The racial makeup of
5840-558: Was El Centro's becoming the county seat of Imperial County . In 1940, El Centro experienced a 7.1 earthquake , and population growth accelerated through the 1940s. By the mid-1940s, El Centro had become the second largest city in the Imperial Valley, with a population of about 11,000 people. El Centro had also become the location of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) administrative offices. Agriculture has been an important industry within El Centro since
5920-416: Was a K-9 police dog that was discarded from the program and subsequently found as a stray on USC's campus. However, the veracity of this account is somewhat in question due to the context of the speech and this being the singular mention of such an origin. He received the surname "Tirebiter" because he would bite at the tires of cars he chased down Trousdale Parkway, which bisects the campus. (Today Trousdale
6000-605: Was intensely studied by structural engineers and assumed to be typical until the Northridge earthquake of 1994 . In this region, the geology is dominated by the transition of the tectonic plate boundary from rift to transverse fault . The southernmost strands of the San Andreas Fault connect the northernmost extensions of the East Pacific Rise . Consequently, the region is subject to earthquakes, and
6080-519: Was observed in December 1967 as a mix of sleet hail. On average there are about 15 days that dip into the mid to lower 30s °F (mid to lower +0s °C). Being below sea level, El Centro has warm days and cool nights in winter. The coldest daily maximum on record is 44 °F (7 °C) on December 14, 1967, and the mean for the coldest day is at 56.1 °F (13.4 °C) for the reference period between 1991 and 2020. The warmest low temperature on record
6160-454: Was rapid with the city's population reaching 1,610 by 1910 and more than tripling by 1920 to 5,646 people. One reason for this rapid early growth was El Centro's successful battle with the City of Imperial to become the county seat. In these early days, relationships among the cities of the Imperial Valley were often intensely competitive, reflecting the particular frontier character of the area and
6240-566: Was taken from USC's campus and sedated. Then the UCLA students shaved the letters U-C-L-A into the fur on Tirebiter's back. To take the prank one step further they took Tirebiter by the Los Angeles Times to be photographed for the paper. After this ordeal, Tirebiter was finally returned to USC in a "doped and confused" state. Once he became the official mascot, the Trojan Knights became his handler at campus events and football games. At football games, Tirebiter would be led out onto
6320-464: Was taken to football games in a limousine where he led the Trojan marching band onto the field, often wearing sweaters and odd little hats. He once drew the cheers of thousands when he bit the mask of UCLA mascot, Joe Bruin, on the nose. Rumor has it there is a transcript on file showing George with a GPA of 3.2 in such courses as Chasing Cats 101 and Biting Tires 270. Of all the great USC mascots, none had
6400-432: Was then broken on September 20, 1950, by the Daily Trojan with the full page headline "Tirebiter is Dead!" The student body then planned a memorial ceremony for Tirebiter on September 22, 1950. The ceremony was led by Schiavone and consisted of a parade of convertibles with black bunting, a marching band, and the student body. Upon reaching Tirebiter's cement footprints, immortalized during Tirebiter's coronation in 1947,
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