Rallying for the UW, 66 years later

The image of three women holding six husky pups might seem familiar; it has been making the rounds as the University honors its 150th anniversary. Since the photo’s debut in mailings from the UW Foundation and on several Seattle-area light-pole banners — most recently in the Office of Annual Giving's Holiday card — we’ve received a number of inquiries from donors and alumni. After researching TYEE yearbooks and some input from the UW Libraries Digital Collections, we’ve learned more about the women featured and even heard from some of their relatives and friends.

The three women pictured are (from left to right) Nancy Rowles ’49, Jan McIntyre ’47 and MaryBelle Becker ’49. As members of the campus Women’s Rally Committee — or “Rally Girls” — Nancy, Jan and MaryBelle were selected to pose with the six husky pup contenders for the next live mascot.

Promoting school spirit was just one of the many ways the Rally Girls served the campus community. According to a mid-forties TYEE, the Women’s Rally Committee was “the women’s service organization to the University. Members are selected for pep, vitality and leadership, and are pledges in winter quarter after working during football season… activities include greeting visiting teams and providing transportation to campus, helping with Songfest and promoting spirit at football games.”

From working for TYEE to writing for The Daily to planning junior prom and chairing the Women’s Rally Committee, Nancy, Jan and MaryBelle were incredibly involved in campus life. All three women were in sororities, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Kappa Gamma, respectively. Jan graduated in 1947 with a degree in Drama. Nancy graduated in 1949 with a Far East degree.

We’ve heard from Ralph Munro, Washington state’s Longtime Secretary of State, that MaryBelle is his cousin and is currently living in Port Townsend. One alumnus, Wallie Funk, recounted that he dated Jan while in school. Unfortunately, Jan and her husband, Coburn Crosby, passed away in a plane crash in Japan in 1966.

As for the photo itself, it was taken in 1946 on Husky Stadium Field. A campus poll through the University Book Store determined which of the six husky pups became the official mascot. The winning pup was presented on October 26th, 1946, at the Homecoming game.

Even more than 60 years later, Nancy, Jan and MaryBelle are still promoting school spirit. It just goes to show that Husky pride is timeless.