John Roberge, creator of FSU's Osecola head icon, shared with us what may be the only remaining reproduction of a full-bodied version (seen on the right above). Recently dug up from his art files, it was printed by FSU Office Services, where Roberge worked, in 1971.
Why two images? "At first, just the head logo, then a full-bodied figure was requested," says Roberge.
"It was a bit awkward to make him left-handed, but the position of the head seemed to require it," he explained. "Making him right-handed would have had the tomahawk down, forward left arm empty."
We asked Roberge if he remembers FSU using the full-bodied version. "I saw it around. Decals and small bumper-sticker paper ones, if memory serves," he told us.
And notice something different about the Osceola head image on the left? The original had only one word, "State," on the feather. Since Roberge hand-lettered the original, he thought the single word would make it simpler and easier to read than two. FSU later added the word "Florida," just one of the tweaks made over the years, until the major redesign that burst on the scene earlier this month.
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