MOVE TO PUT MULES BACK ON THE ROAD

Now that the mule is the official state animal, many who pushed for that legislation are working to make the mule a prominent sight on the state roads.

Like on every vehicle registered in Missouri.

With efforts under way to change Missouri's license plates to anything other than the oft-maligned white on red style, mule supporters are using the change to pitch for wider recognition of the state animal.

Following an effort launched by American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau and embraced by the state American Legion, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last spring to grant the mule official status.

Charles Woodford, who led that effort, is also spearheading this latest mule-related campaign. Although the American Legion has not officially endorsed the proposal, Woodford said many of the same people are involved.

Why the mule?

"The mule really contributed to the state of Missouri," Woodford said. "In fact, at one time 50 percent of all work done in Missouri depended on mules."

A committee working on the plate design has held three meetings across the state to elicit public suggestions. Woodford's operatives pitched the animal at two of those meetings.

The committee is composed of the superintendent of the Missouri Highway Patrol, the head of the Department of Revenue, the administrator of Corrections Enterprises, Sen. William P. McKenna of Barnhart and Rep. Larry Thomason of Kennett.

Woodford said he contacted Thomason before he knew he would be on the committee and said the representative seemed receptive.

Thomason said the committee is gauging public response and learning the technical and cost considerations involved with the manufacturing of license plates. After January, serious debate will begin on the design, which must be finalized by April 1.

"We're trying to hear from the public and see what they are interested in. There seems to be a lot of people in favor of it," Thomason said in reference to the mule proposal. "I don't know if there is any consensus yet on the committee."

Sue Cole, editor and publisher of Mules and More, a monthly magazine based in Bland, Mo., submitted to the Department of Revenue three proposed designs featuring the profile of a mule.

Woodford said he would support any design featuring the mule but would rather have an action-oriented representation.

"Personally, I'd prefer a kicking mule but mule people here do not agree with me on that. They say that gives mules a bad reputation. But that is a popular image of mules," Woodford said.

Cole has not yet received any feedback from the state concerning her design, but has a positive attitude about the mule's chances.

"I think we have a lot of support for the license plate because mule people will get out there and work for it."

She is particularly excited about the prospect because of Woodford's involvement. Woodford, she said, was the driving force in the effort to make the mule the state animal.

Woodford said he became keen on mules a couple of years ago when he found out that despite popular perception, the state had no official animal.

"I always thought the mule was the state animal and so did everyone else," he said.

"I thought that would be a really good project for Post 63 -- to get the mule the recognition it deserves and was denied for 200 years."