July 09, 2018

Rest In Peace, Buddy

With great sadness, we say goodbye to Buddy, the Newfoundland who represented the Pioneers for over a decade.

With great sadness, we say goodbye to Buddy, the Newfoundland who represented the Pioneers for over a decade. Buddy passed away peacefully on July 2, 2018, with his family Pete Forgey and Katherine Kramer by his side.

Buddy has been synonymous with Lewis & Clark since 2008 when the current Pioneers logos debuted, which include a Newfoundland dog. A Newfoundland had accompanied Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Buddy has been highly involved on campus—including leading the football team onto the field at each home game, and making appearances at other Pioneers sporting and non-athletic events.

Buddy was featured in The Oregonian, The Columbian newspaper, and Newftides—the official magazine of the Newfoundland Club of America. Buddy also appeared in this year’s Day of Giving campaign video, and the Lewis & Clark holiday videos from 2017 and 2010.  

Last October, Buddy was inducted into the Lewis & Clark Athletics Hall of Fame in addition to receiving an honorary varsity letter last April at the 2018 Excellence of Lewis & Clark’s Year of Sports (ELCYS). (This video played before Buddy’s Hall of Fame induction.)

“We are appreciative of Pete and Katherine for all the time they dedicate to our student-athletes, and we look forward to [Buddy’s little brother] ‘Garner’ proudly serving as our mascot in the future,” Director of Athletics Communications Ryan Goff said. “Still, there will always be just one Buddy. He was special to our community and will be missed.”