Mascot

Wake Forest athletic teams were originally known as the “Baptists” or “The Old Gold and Black.” However, in 1922, the editor of the school newspaper, Mayor Parker ’24, created the alliteration “Demon Deacons” to describe a major defeat over Trinity (now Duke). When Wake Forest College’s publicity director, Henry Belk, began incorporating the nickname into his press releases, newspapers from around the country started to proclaim the success of the Demon Deacons.

Then, in 1941, Jack Baldwin (’43) was dared by a few of his fraternity brothers to dress up as a Demon Deacon for an athletic contest. Baldwin decided to dress in a dignified combination of top hat and tails and proceeded to ride into the athletic match on a Carolina Ram, umbrella in hand. For the Wake Forest fandom, it was love at first sight.

There are some things at Wake Forest that are absolutely unique. The only mascot of its kind, the familiar spirited figure in top hat and tails on the sidelines at every game is one -The Wake Forest Demon Deacon.