What is a Reddie?
Several stories persist as to how the name REDDIE originated. It derived from the red of the red and gray school colors.
Intercollegiate football at Henderson State began in 1905, and from that date until the 1908 season the varsity eleven was simply known as the "Henderson football team." In 1908 a contest was held among the student body to give the team a name. The initial edition of the Henderson newspaper, The Oracle (October 6, 1908), contains a story that Nellie Hartsgeld had the honor of naming the football team the "Red Jackets," indicative of the color of their jerseys. During those days, however, some scribes began referring to them only as "Red Men" and "Reds."
The name REDDIE first appeared in the 1913 Star yearbook, in a feature story concerning the 1912 "Red Jacket" season. Again, in the 1914 Star a story about the football team captain states that the athletes were dubbed REDDIES. From then to present day, REDDIES has replaced the original "Red Jackets."
A plausible explanation for the evolution from "Red Jackets" and 'Reds" to REDDIES is that REDDIES fit into pep songs and yells better than the shorter and more blunt 'Reds" did. Over the years, the name REDDIES has prevailed, not only for the athletes, but for the entire student body. No color could better represent Henderson than red, for its historic association with loyalty, courage and honor best portrays Henderson State University and the emotions that her alumni, students and friends hold for her.
Hendersonians proudly wear the red and are fittingly known as REDDIES. Therefore, the University remains without a traditional mascot.
Perhaps the best explanation of what a REDDIE is came from Oracle editor Crawford Greene in a 1921 issue of the school newspaper:
"A Tiger is a Tiger, a Bulldog is a bulldog, a Panther is a panther, a Wildcat is a wildcat — but a REDDIE is God's noblest work, superior to all the other animals possessed, to be sure of that do-or-die spirit, an indispensable ingredient to one's composite self. No mere beast has ever symbolized the wearer of the 'H.' None can. Long may we keep it so."
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