McKenzie residents debate ‘Colonel Reb’ mascot
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McKENZIE, Tenn. — Residents in McKenzie are discussing whether the school district’s mascot is appropriate. School staff said “Colonel Reb” has represented the “Red and Gray” since the 1940s. “We were never really taught what the mascot was a symbol of,” McKenzie alumna Amy Carter said. “Colonel Reb,” a character the New York Times describes as a southern plantation owner, was once the mascot for the University of Mississippi. “That’s part of our heritage, and how are you going to change that by removing it?” John Boswell said. “It’s instilled in people.” Director of Schools Lynn Watkins did not want to go on camera but did say the school district has no plans to stop using the Colonel anytime soon. The Colonel goes beyond the football field. He can be seen on a city water tower, and “mini” male and female Colonels are on the elementary school’s website. “It’s not so much what it is — it’s what you make of something like that,” Boswell said. “This is a small country town with an ugly mascot,” Carter said. Carter said growing up she did not question the connection to slavery associated with the Colonel. She would like to see more education on the historical significance. “They should’ve told us what the Colonel was and what was missing from his hand on the football field was a noose,” Carter said. “The Civil War was not fought just over slavery, and I think we need to keep that in mind,” Boswell said. “Don’t just look at the negative things and focus on them.” School district officials said they dropped the Confederate flag from their theme in the early 2000s.
