LEGION POST: MISSOURI MULE SHOULD BE STATE ANIMAL

Missouri has an official flower, tree, instrument, song, even an official fossil, but no official animal -- at least not yet.

Members of the American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau hope to change that. They are spearheading a statewide campaign to get the Missouri mule, a fellow veteran, named the state's official animal. The campaign is led by American Legion members Charles Woodford and John Yallaly.

Woodford and Yallaly are making presentations to groups around the state drumming up support for the mule.

In July, the local post will ask the state-wide American Legion to endorse the project. In January, they hope, state legislation will be introduced to give the mule its due.

Woodford came up with the notion while preparing for the Missouri Day celebration here earlier this year. "I learned that the mule was not the state animal. It was nothing," he said.

"The mule was a vet, just like us," Woodford said. "The American Legion seemed the right vehicle to do this."

It's not just the mule's military record that qualifies it for recognition. Mules are amazing animals, agree Woodford and Yallaly. A hybrid of a mare and a jackass, mules, are smarter than horses and can do a third more work on a third less rations, say Woodford and Yallaly.

Mules were involved in Army units from the Indian Wars through World War II.

"We never lost a war a mule was involved in," said Woodford.

This is not the first time Missourians have tried to get the mule named the official state animal. Previous attempts have been blocked because the mule resembles the Democratic Party symbol, the donkey.

Woodford and Yallaly said the time is right to get this measure passed by the legislature. In fact, they say, time may be running out.

Yallaly said, "If we don't get this done in the next 10 years or so, there won't be anyone around who has seen a mule work."

"You almost have to be 60 or 65 years old to remember mules working," Woodford said. "Young people don't understand the important role mules played in Missouri."

Mules worked the mines, logged the forests, worked in construction, built roads and railroads and drained the swamps in Southeast Missouri.

Melvin Bradley, professor emeritus at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Missouri mule expert, agrees that mules deserve recognition as the state animal.

"When you talk to politicians who are not very mule-experienced, they say it already is. Everyone thinks it is," Bradley said. "I think it will happen this time."

Bradley agrees that the time is right because, he said, mules are gaining popularity.

"The trend toward mules is in a stampede," said Bradley. "Mules are the thing, especially the riding mules, racing mules and jumping mules. To be a gungho horseman, you now need a mule."

Mules have a fan club of sorts. Publications, including a monthly one called "Mules and More," talk about the virtues of the animals. Organizations of mule skinners share information about their favorite animals. Bradley recently published a two-volume history of mules which he says is selling like hot cakes.

"Harry Truman, if he were alive today, would be our biggest cheerleader," said Bradley. "I think those of us who grew up with them never got them out of our blood. They contributed so much to humanity."

At one time, Bradley said, 70 percent of the animal work stock was made up of mules, especially in Southeast Missouri.

"Mules did the freighting and road building and the heavy work. They helped build the railroads. River barges were unloaded by mules," Bradley said.

"Where you had hard work and hot climates, mules were the animal of choice. Mules grew for the nation its first two cash crops -- tobacco and cotton. In my opinion, we could not have had the money to revolt against England without the mule."

Mules became associated with Missouri for a variety of reasons. The animals were used throughout the state and Missouri mule breeders earned a reputation for top quality animals.

"The jack stock breeders simply out did their competition," Bradley said. "The quality, quantity and size gave the Missouri mule recognition as something special worldwide."