University News

WIU to Celebrate Ray's Seventh Birthday Feb. 14

February 11, 2025

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MACOMB, IL - - Happy seventh birthday to our bone-afide best friend, Colonel Rock IV!

Western Illinois University's live mascot, Colonel Rock IV, aka "Ray," will turn seven Friday, Feb. 14. To celebrate the special day, Col. Rock IV has teamed up with the Casa Latina Cultural Center and Chubby Chewy's Pet Bakery to host a birthday party from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., in the Multicultural Center. Participants can participate in pet treat decorating, pet toy making, photos with the birthday boy, enjoy cupcakes and grab a few freebies. Music will also be provided by DJ KD.

Additionally, the bookstore located on campus will host a sale Friday in honor of the birthday boy with 20% off Col. Rock bobbleheads in store.

Col. Rock IV (also known as Ray, after WIU's legendary longtime coach and athletic director Ray "Rock" Hanson) arrived in Macomb in June 2018. WIU alumni and Assistant Vice President for Student Success Joe Roselieb and Vice President for Finance and Administration Ketra Roselieb, along with their four-year-old son Aiden, and one-year-old twins, Grace and Braxton house and train (and chauffeur) Ray. Col. Rock IV came to Western through the generosity of the Siess family, the WIU Foundation and private donors.

"We look forward to this special day each year," Roselieb said. "We really enjoy getting out and celebrating with the WIU campus community. Ray really enjoys being around people and being on campus. The cupcakes also don't hurt. I've never heard him complain about those."

Col. Rock IV is an AKC-certified English bulldog obtained from Richard and Beth Siess of the Siess Ranch in Seneca, KS. All Pets Veterinary Clinic, the WIU School of Agriculture, Farm to Pet Dog Treats and Pet Supplies Plus, along with other University and community organizations and individuals, make sure that Col. Rock IV's needs are tended to.

To help supplement funding for Col. Rock IV's care, the Western Illinois University Foundation established the Colonel Rock Live Mascot Fund. Donating is simple and can be done by visiting wiu.edu/livemascot. Donations, made payable to WIU Foundation, can also be sent to: WIU Foundation, 303 Sherman Hall, 1 University Cir., Macomb, IL 61455. Contributors who send in donations are asked to include a note that designates the gifts for Colonel Rock's Live Mascot Fund.

To follow Col. Rock IV on Facebook, visit facebook.com/Col.RockMascot. Visit wiu.edu/livemascot for additional information about WIU's Live Mascot Program.

For more information regarding the Colonel Rock Live Mascot Fund, contact the WIU Foundation Office at (309) 298-1861.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing