Retired Baylor Mascot Dies of Cancer
Former Baylor bear mascot Judge Virginia "Ginny" Crump, who retired to Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho, in May, died Sunday of lymphosarcoma, a cancer also known as lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was 3.
"Ginny was a treasured member of the Baylor family," said Josh Pittman, who was Ginny's trainer during her last year at Baylor. "She was here to support the teams and also to fulfill an educational purpose. She met with literally thousands of people of all ages at Baylor, at schools and at churches throughout Central Texas."
Ginny, with her first trainer Trey Ingram, a 1998 Baylor graduate, made her first public appearance on April 18, 1996, during Diadeloso. She was named for Mrs. Virginia Crump, a former student life administrator who retired in 1982 following 36 years of service as a Baylor employee. Crump received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Baylor and worked in several university departments before being named assistant vice president for student affairs in 1981, the position she held when she retired. During her service in student life, Baylor began allowing national fraternity and sorority chapters at the university.