December 21, 2023, In 1918, when Santa Rosa Junior College started as a feeder for the University of California, the first students decided upon the bear cub as an emblem and a nod to the Cal bear.

In the first 1920 yearbook, titled The Bear Cub, the students wrote: “We wish it known that we as the student body of the Junior College chose the bear cub as our emblem because we admired it, and wished to be known as possessing some of its characteristics. Bear Cubs are intelligent and given to investigation. They are full of fun and enjoy life. Are not these worthy traits?”

However, the bear cub was nameless for 30 years.

Then, in April 1950, a name was chosen for the SRJC bear cub. The Patrin yearbook editor organized a contest to name the bear cub. Out of nearly 50 names submitted by students, one was voted as the best. The same name, ROSCO, was submitted independently by two students, Eugene Ward and Greg Brethards. ROSCO was named for ROS in Santa Rosa and CO - short for college.

Other submitted names were Towser, Ruff, Chip, Scrappy, Duffy, Buzzy, Herkey, Clio, Daphne, and more.

The many Rosco looks throughout the years can be seen in photos from the SRJC Archives, the Patrin yearbooks, or the historical Oak Leaf newspapers available at  https://libraries.santarosa.edu/archives.