By Mike Fowler
Updated: September 2022
Just about everywhere that one goes and mentions that they are from Hutto, Texas; the typical response is: “Oh, the Hutto Hippos!” Hutto is most widely known for its high school mascot – the hippo. So much so, that all of the schools within the Hutto Independent School District have the hippo as their mascot and the school website is even www.hipponation.org. The people of the Hutto community have mostly and enthusiastically embraced our hippo uniqueness.
2013 large wall mural by artist, Suzzana Huser on the south side of the Widmer building located along US Highway 79 at 101 East Street in old town Hutto. (2014 photo by Mike Fowler)
Somehow; through time, tradition, and branding, the hippopotamus, or “river horse” as it translates from Latin to English, has become forever connected to Hutto, Texas.
The Hippo legend …
I love this story a lot and am responsible for the great majority of the research and writing behind its creation. This story is by far, the most popular and best-liked local hippo legend, which begins in 1915 when a circus train stopped at the depot station in Hutto to take on passengers, pick up and deliver mail and probably take on water and fuel for the steam locomotive. The circus train workers also would have taken this opportunity to care for their animals. At some point during this historic layover, a hippopotamus got out of the railcar and made its escape to the nearby Cottonwood Creek which flowed beneath the railroad tracks just to the east of the then-Hutto Railroad Depot.
Another of many hippo circus references is this photograph of a hippo outside next to a train from the Harry Ransom Center Collection at the University of Texas at Austin.
This escape of the hippo caused much consternation for the circus workers. Local farmers and merchants watched the commotion in amusement and with interest as unsuccessful efforts were made to extricate the hippopotamus from the muddy waters of Cottonwood Creek. The Depot Agent, who at that time would have been Hal Farley, Jr., telegraphed the communities of Taylor and Round Rock that were eight miles to the east and west of Hutto with the message: “STOP TRAINS, HIPPO LOOSE IN HUTTO”. After much effort, the hippo was prodded from the mud and water that resembled its natural habitat in Africa and was reloaded back onto the circus train car. Soon afterward the Hutto School adopted the hippopotamus as its mascot and as early as 1923 the hippo appeared on official Hutto High School graduation announcements. Hutto is the only community in the United States with the Hippo as its mascot.
The initial source of this legend appeared in a very brief article of October 20, 1979, from the Corsicana Daily Sun which reported the 1915 hippo escape from the circus train and provided some level of validity to the legend. When he was alive, Hutto’s local hippo aficionado, Mahlon Arnett, long maintained the possibility of the circus train story and had done extensive research and wrote to at least establish that angle to the hippo story. Numerous Hutto superintendents, coaches, teachers, and students have long repeated the great hippo escape story.
Also, Daniel Brett of Hutto did some very interesting and detailed additional research and sent me the following: “Here is some information I found just doing some online research on circus’s in the area around 1915 and possible Hutto connections:
- Sells-Floto Circus., while the advertisement was from an El Paso paper, according to the circus route sites I find, it came to Waco on October 23rd, Temple 24th, Hearne, 30th, and Austin 31st during 1912, note the mention of a Baby Hippo in the advertisement.
- The Yankee-Robinson circus came to Taylor on October 10, 1916, Cameron on the 6th, Rosebud on the 7th, Rockdale on the 9th, Georgetown on the 11th, and Bartlett on the 12th.
- Ringling Bros. was in Taylor on September 25, 1913, and September 27, 1917; and in the area of Waco, Temple, Austin on Oct 6, 7, 8 in 1915”
If it acts like a hippo and looks like a hippo – it might just be a hippo …
According to local historian, Mike Fowler, there are also numerous alternate stories and possibilities about the beginnings of the unique Hutto mascot that he has heard of over his five decades in Hutto.
One such story is; that when the big Swedish and German boys of Hutto were playing their smaller foes in football, the visiting coach exclaimed: “We can’t beat those boys, they’re big as hippos!” The hippopotamus can also be a highly aggressive animal and it kills more people in Africa than any other mammal except for humans.
Another story, also based on the very early days of Hutto gridiron lore, is that these Hutto football teams had no real jerseys and wore feed sacks for their uniforms. Again, it was an opposing coach who allegedly remarked that the football team looked like a bunch of hippos in their makeshift outfits. This would have been especially true if the young Hutto men were playing in wet conditions on their muddy blackland prairie football field. It was also stated by then-student, Hugh S. Davenport that Hutto did not have football uniforms until 1925 when the then Superintendent, W. E. Gattis secured “hand me down” uniforms from Southwestern University in Georgetown.
Hippodrome of Hutto …
During the early 1900s (after the 1902 fire) Hutto had its own outdoor Hippodrome Theater located on the east side of East Street, where outdoor movies were shown as well as our own indoor Opera House located where the current Hutto Chamber of Commerce building sits at East and Farley Streets. Perhaps the Hutto Hippodrome name could have played a role in the naming of our local mascot.
Hippodrome of Waco …
A much more famed Hippodrome, the Waco Hippodrome Theater, which opened on February 7, 1914, has been the location for a mixed bill of road shows, vaudeville tours, movies and local talent shows and events. With its ornate domed ceiling, gold leaf trim, and proscenium arch, the Waco Hippodrome is still an architectural treasure of Texas. The Theater has received designation as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. This theater was significant to the Central Texas area and it is also possible that this could also have been an inspiration for the naming of our mascot.
Hippo Soda Water of San Antonio …
Another hippo hypothesis that is interesting is that the naming of the Hutto mascot was influenced by the “Hippo Size Soda Water” carbonated drinks that were patented on November 2, 1926, and distributed all over the San Antonio and Austin areas. This unique sixteen-ounce soda bottle was issued by the San Antonio Bottling Company and was embossed with a hippo and the words “Hippo Size Soda Water”. This extra-large soda product sold for five cents a bottle mainly in central and south Texas. Today, the hippo soda bottles, cases, and associated memorabilia are highly sought after by antique bottle collectors. Maybe … Hutto’s mascot choice was somehow influenced by the name of the soda!
Heartfelt enough to appear in her obituary …
Another much more likely version of the Hutto Hippo origin was related by Evelyn Belle “Effie” Carrington (Hutto Class of 1931) Jacobsen who thought this information was important enough to include in her own obituary in 2008. Evelyn wrote that a young fellow student, Jim Holman, at a school assembly in 1927 called for the official mascot of the Hutto School to be the hippo, and it was passed by acclamation with no opposition. While no such school record exists, this story probably formalized our mascot name and did happen. It is also possible that young Jim’s motion could have even been based on the circus hippo escape of twelve years earlier in that the hippo first appeared on Hutto High School graduation announcements as earlier as 1923. Local deceased historian, Hugh S. Davenport (Hutto Class of 1926) strongly believed the Jim Holman story as did deceased Betty Sue Blackman (Hutto Class of 1949) Holmstrom, the author of the 2000 book, Hutto & Hippos.
James Higgins Holman was born on May 27, 1914, and died on December 2, 1971. Jim Holman graduated from Hutto High School in the Class of 1931 and was the Mayor of Hutto from April 1954 until April 1958. Mayor Jim Holman was inspired by then Hutto School Superintendent Noel Grisham who had promoted the city water system purchase and building of our first city sewer plant. Holman helped to bring sewer to the City of Hutto in 1956 after the City had purchased the water works system from Charlie Hagstrom. Jim Holman was involved in a farming partnership and was the son of the first Mayor of Hutto, Willis D. Holman, who was elected in 1911 when the City of Hutto was first incorporated. (Courtesy of Holman Family Collection)
Henrietta the Hippo…
2014 photograph of Henrietta the Hippo on the east side of East Street in historic downtown Hutto. This photo was taken after recent landscaping efforts. Many thousands of people have had their photographs taken with Henrietta. (2014 photo by Mike Fowler)
It was back in September of 1992 that the Hutto Chamber of Commerce; much through the efforts of Murray McDonald and Josh Richards, purchased and brought Henrietta the Hippo, a 14,000-plus pound concrete statue on a trailer from Double D Statuary, in Sinton, Texas. Henrietta the Hippo stands proudly in a small 17-foot wide City of Hutto Alley that was near where many of the then downtown Hutto buildings on the east side of East Street were destroyed by fire in 1902.
Another Henrietta the Hippo, the official mascot of Hutto High School, at a Chamber of Commerce appearance in 2005. Various versions of this mascot have made appearances mostly at Hutto school events such as pep rallies, athletic events, band performances, and school assemblies. Our Hippo is one of the most recognized and top mascots in the State of Texas and the United States of America even having achieved international attention through news articles. (2005 Photo by Mike Fowler)
More Hippos of Hutto …
Hippos Unlimited was at one time a 501C3 non-profit organization, now disbanded, and DBA “Hutto Hippos” that stated its primary purpose to be: “to advertise and promote the Hutto community in a positive manner through the use of its primary identifier, the hippopotamus.”
The original Hippos Unlimited group, primarily consisting of Rose and Troy McMillin, Mike and Donna Fowler, and John Stern with help from others was began in the fall of 2001 and successfully accomplished the following:
- Promoted hippos everywhere in our community.
- Brought in over a thousand concrete hippos of various sizes that are located throughout the Hutto community and beyond. Some of the most visible and numerous examples are the large 725-pound hippos shown below. These concrete hippos are now sold by the Hutto Chamber of Commerce.
The first of many large hippo orders and deliveries to Hutto was organized by Mike Fowler. This first delivery was assisted by Josh Richards through the use of his land and equipment to unload the large concrete hippos from Double D Statuary of Sinton, Texas. (2002 photo by Mike Fowler)
- Mike Fowler got the State of Texas Legislature via former State Representative Mike Krusse to officially declare by resolution that Hutto is the official “Hippo Capitol of Texas”.
- Got two Official Resolutions adopted by the City of Hutto declaring Hutto to officially become “Hippo, Texas” for the Olde Tyme Days weekend and the second resolution recognizing and honoring the Hutto Hippos.
- In 2003 Hippos Unlimited via Mike Fowler paid an artist for the use of his artwork for “Hutto Hippos”, Hippos Unlimited, and within the “Hutto Hippos” with the Williamson County Clerk’s Office including exclusive artwork and graphics below.
- Mike Fowler has written extensively about the history of the Hutto Hippos and the branding of the Hutto Hippos for the community in many newspapers and magazines.
- Have donated one life-sized fiberglass hippo to Hutto High School. This hippo was created by Jerry Post of “Everything Fiberglass” of Bertram, Texas. Mr. Post was paid to produce this statue and four others; however, this was the only one that he completed before he died.
- Have donated sixteen large concrete hippos to the Hutto Independent School District.
- Donated ten large concrete hippos to the City of Hutto.
- Donated sixty Hutto Hippo flags and panels to the Schools, City, and Community including sending one to Zambia and one with our troops to Iraq.
- Sponsored or co-sponsored several community-wide painted hippo contests with prizes.
- Co-Sponsored with Everything Hippo, the 2008 Hippo Calendar that benefited the Hutto Independent School District band program.
- Worked with the world’s first-ever brick-and-mortar hippo store, Everything Hippo, owned by Robbi and Mahlon Arnett. When Everything Hippo was in operation the Arnett family did everything they could to promote the hippopotamus and community.
- Have produced various hippo tee shirts, signs, and many other hippo-related products and items.
- Sponsored a hippo food and beverage-themed Hutto Chamber of Commerce mixer event.
- Secured Hippo Golf as the primary prize sponsor of the first annual Hutto Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament.
- Participated in numerous Hutto Olde Tyme Days and community events.
- Achieved coverage through press releases and articles for Hutto utilizing the hippo brand on a local, regional, state, national and international level.
- Established a small Hippo Museum in 2007-2009 at the Chamber of Commerce; however, we are in search of a new, larger, and permanent location. Some items are currently in storage by the City of Hutto.
- Helped arrange for six life-sized metal hippo silhouette sculptures for Hejl, Lee, and Associates from salvaged metal materials from the historic Hutto Co-op property. In May of 2011 repainted the six hippos to silver to be reflective of the Co-op look. Currently in storage by the City of Hutto.
- Acquired the hippo mobile, Harmony, that has been used in parades, areas, and community events. The hippo car appeared in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Hutto Olde Tyme celebrations and the parade was displayed as well to promote local businesses. In 2010, Harmony the Hippo Car was repainted from purple to orange. In May of 2011, the Hutto Hippo Car made history by participating in the 24th Annual Houston Art Car Parade of the Orange Show Foundation to the delight of approximately 300,000 parade watchers. Since 2021 the now grey Line-X coated hippo car renamed Hermes and is now privately owned by Billy Gartner.
- Have promoted identity tourism through the use of the hippopotamus on a consistent basis.
Donna Fowler in the Hutto Middle School parking lot dressed as the ‘Mad Hatter’ prior to a Hutto Parade in 2011. People still often see and take pictures of the hippomobile as it is driven around Hutto and Central Texas by Mike Fowler. (2011 Photo by Mike Fowler)
Hippo Good …
Our hippos have proven to be great public relations, especially for our schools, as well as for our community, tourism, and our local businesses. The hippo branding has assisted in our community building and even international recognition. We are known far and wide as the Hutto Hippos. In December of 1999, our Girls’ Volleyball “Lady Hippos” were the first and only team to ever win a State Championship for Hutto High School. To many, Hutto Olde Tyme Days have also become known as the Hippo Fest and were at one time promoted as such by the Hutto Chamber of Commerce. It is amazing just how many businesses have utilized the hippo as part of their business and their advertisement. In recent years the Hutto Chamber of Commerce has taken over the sale of concrete hippos and other hippo-based items. In February 2019, Scott and Stacie Feller opened the Hippo Café, one of many community businesses utilizing our hippo-based theme. Hutto has really just scratched the surface of some of the incredible hippo stories of our community and I surmise that many more will be told in the coming years. Still, just looking around our community today, it is really hard not to smile at our many unique hippos and the great pride that we take in them.
The Hippo Challenge …
Is simply … to just keep the Hippo Movement going! We have hippos, and hippos everywhere and should continue to utilize the power of the hippo and come up with new, different, and better ways of taking advantage of our special mascot and unique branding. Hutto could and should have a large Hutto Hippos Museum, Hippo Trails in our parks, and God forbid the world’s largest hippo statue as an immense tourist draw.
Many years ago, local resident and businessman Mahlon Arnett wrote an outstanding article that he published in his periodic magazine, The Hutto Business Update, “What’s with all the Hippos?” that in part stated: “Hutto is already self-branded with the hippo and we should make the most of it. The hippo is Hutto’s natural brand just because of its uniqueness. Wherever we go and mention Hutto, people who have never been to central Texas often know we are the hippos. Let’s preserve our past and build our future with the heritage retention that is presented through the redevelopment and reclamation of the CO-OP property and downtown. It is time to create libraries, museums, heritage centers, and art in public places. In Hutto, it is clear that Hippos and heritage do go together. The possibilities are endless… our brand could result in a Healthy Hippo Festival, a water park, a cook-off, and gift shops,… to name just a few ideas. Let is not only take pride in our identifier but use it to its fullest potential to promote community pride, heritage, uniqueness, economic development, and most especially tourism.”
Whatever the story is for the actual basis for our Hippo mascot; Hutto is the only School District and the only community in the United States to have the Hippo as its primary identifier. The Hippos provide Hutto a uniqueness like none other; Hutto and Hippo are synonymous to the degree that when people “You say Hutto, We say Hippo”. While the widespread and most popular circus legend of how Hutto became the hippos … may not even be true … we are undeniable, the Hutto Hippos!
Now the next time someone asks you about the Hutto Hippos, you can tell them absolutely way more than they ever really want to know about our truly great mascot, the Hippo. Go Hippo Nation!
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Mike Fowler is a local historian and an author of The Capitol Story: Statehouse in Texas; Hutto Lutheran Church: A Century of Community Faith. Images of America Hutto and other books and publications. He is also a retired State of Texas employee with twenty-five years who also served for twenty-five years as Councilman and Mayor of the City of Hutto. Mike is known as the pro-growth “Hippo Mayor” who secured long-term water and purchased the CO-OP site for the City of Hutto among many other pro Hutto accomplishments. Mike is also a licensed real estate broker and owns TEX US Real Estate and has a degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin. Mike can be reached by e-mail at mfowler16@austin.rr.com or at 512-736-2000. This is original research by Mike Fowler and the information therein is for public – not for-profit use – provided that the information and materials are properly credited to Mike Fowler. Also, be certain to properly credit any additional sources cited in the above material.