The new incarnation of the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ (91¶ÌÊÓƵ) Royals mascot will make his first appearance Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 on Facebook Live during Homecoming weekend. He’s coming to fill some (literally) large shoes left behind by the “sleek blue” Herm that Royals have come to know and love for 22 years.

But the history of Herm begins well before this passing of the torch – the Herm unveiled this October will be the fifth loyal lion to take to the court, fields, and campus-at-large. Read on to learn how our very own, very loveable Panthera leo came to be.

Many thanks to Ashley Kishorn, field hockey head coach, and Les Helmuth, former alumni relations director, for their contributions to this history.

March 1980 

•  Eastern Mennonite College basketball coach Sherman Eberly ’68 says that he’d like to see “some type of mascot” and an organized pep band next season, which would “add a great deal to team spirit.” Up until now, the Royals logo .

1981  

• Alumni relations director Les Helmuth ’78 holds a student competition to create a cartoon mascot for the Eastern Mennonite College Royals. The Royals Lion wins the competition, and a character design is first drawn by Darrell Yoder ’81 with the name “HRM,” short for “his royal majesty.”

• Gloria Lehman ’74, a home economics teacher at Eastern Mennonite High School, and Helmuth create the first iteration of the Herm costume. Helmuth said he served as the first HRM as “the headgear was intoxicating and I couldn’t find anyone to wear it.” This first incarnation became known as the “wimpy” lion.

• Rob French ’84 becomes HRM for the next three years. , “there was a disagreement between our cheerleaders and Bridgewater’s. I went over to apologize and they pulled my tail!” 

1984

• HRM is reborn as a professionally made costume with string hair.

1988

• A new and improved “Herm” enters the scene with a mane of blue and white feathers. “That was a flea-bitten old thing,” said Professor Lester Zook. “Every time it would run across the gym, those feathers would fly. It was almost embarrassing.” 

1994

• The athletics department commissions artist Henry Gomez to rebrand Herm, but “its rippling muscles and grimacing expression created controversy in the department,” The Weather Vane .

1995 – 1997

• Herm is mysteriously absent … gap years, perhaps?

1998

• The “sleek blue lion” Herm, designed by 91¶ÌÊÓƵ communications staffer Wendell Esbenshade, begins its 22-year reign over 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s athletics facilities after appearing on the basketball court. Director of alumni and parent relations Janet Stutzman purchases the new costume on behalf of the alumni club “the Loyal Royals.” 

Fall 2000

• First-year student Rebecca Shimp, as Herm, hands out balloons for the newly-constructed University Commons. “Those big fuzzy feet are hard to manage,” Shimp says.

January 2002

• , who helps throw candy, t-shirts, and water bottles to the crowd at basketball games. Not to be outdone, “I can act stupid and make the crowd laugh,” says Herm.

February 2008

• Herm is named “player of the week” . “Herm can usually be seen dancing on the sidelines, goofing around with a referee, or running up and down the sidelines, all to encourage the fans to cheer on their Royals,” Sunil Dick ’08 wrote.

April 2009

• that Herm is suspended indefinitely for fraternizing with a rival mascot – the Bridgewater Lady Eagle – in “late night roller [rink] escapades”

November 2012

• as a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists.

October 2013

• to open the annual ResLife Olympics, in which dormitories compete against one another in “extreme” musical chairs, “Ninja” dodgeball, and soccer. Parkwoods wins this year for the third time in a row.

April 2017

• Herm helps escort 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s ninth president, Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, around campus during her Inauguration Week.

April 2020

• Herm announces his retirement, saying, “my speed and agility are no longer a match for today’s athletes, and with my limited tech skills I have fallen behind in my abilities to stay ‘hip’ with our student body … I feel the time has come for me to walk away from the Royal throne and pass the torch to the next Loyal Lion in line for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.”

October 2020

• Herm the Fifth begins his tenure as the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Royals mascot.

The Academic Team award recognizes the team GPA from the fall semester of the 2019-20 academic year, recognizing programs with a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher. 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s streak of 14 consecutive years of earning the team award started from the 2006 season.

The Academic Squad award is for individuals who hold a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher through the fall semester.  (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite),  (Aldie, Va./John Champe),  (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central),  (Smithfield, Va./Smithfield),  (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite),  (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester),  (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside),  (Fredericksburg, Va./Fredericksburg Christian) and  (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) represent Royals out of the 1,943 student-athletes from the 157 Division III institutions recognized this year. Mast, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s lone senior, earned special recognition as a four-year honoree on the National Academic Squad.

Zag Field Hockey sponsors both awards.

“The field hockey program strives to succeed on the field and in the classroom,” said Coach Ashley Kishorn. “The players work hard to balance their schedules through the fall season. We are proud of the commitment the players make to their academics and are thrilled that they have once again exceeded our expectations.”

The Royals finished with a record of 5-13, and sophomore defender  (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) tied for the national lead with a program record 17 defensive saves.

This marks the 14th straight year that the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ team has earned the National Academic Team Award, a streak started from the 2006 season.

“The field hockey program strives to succeed on the field and in the classroom,” said Coach Ashley Kishorn. “The players work hard to balance their schedules through the fall season. We are proud of the commitment the players make to their academics and are thrilled that they have once again exceeded our expectations.”

The NFHCA recognizes college teams with a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher with the award. Zag Field Hockey sponsors the national award.

The Royals finished with a record of 5-13, and sophomore defender  (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) tied for the national lead with a program record 17 defensive saves.

Royals of the past can play with their former teammates once again in a small-sided alumni game at 12:30 p.m. The game against Juniata follows and will include halftime introductions. Supper and a panel of past players and coaches will follow.

Current head coach Ashley Kishorn said the program is steeped in tradition and success, and she wants the current Royals to have a chance to rub shoulders with those former players.

“With 11 ODAC Championships over the years, it is clear that 91¶ÌÊÓƵ field hockey has had its fair share of success and talented athletes,” Kishorn explained. “The amount of field hockey players inducted into our schools’ Hall of Honor alone is impressive! We would love if alumni would come back to their roots here at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ and share stories and tips for success not just on the hockey field but also in their lives and careers. It has been my goal to get this program back up to the achievements that those before us had, so speaking with these wonderful alumni would be an awesome experience for our current players and coaches.”

Director of Athletics Dave King said he enjoys the chance to honor former student-athletes.

“One of my greatest joys is to hear the stories of alumni and former coaches, describing how their 91¶ÌÊÓƵ sports experience shaped and prepared them for life,” King explained. “They embody the purpose and value of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics and deserve to be recognized and honored in this way.”

All former field hockey players and coaches are asked to RSVP by filling out this short online form.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ is also planning a 50th year celebration of the program at the 2020 Homecoming Weekend next year.