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    remembering shasta vi

    Beloved University of Houston cougar mascot Shasta VI passes away at 11

    Steven Devadanam
    Aug 9, 2022 | 6:00 am
    Shasta VI UH rings
    Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo

    The University of Houston’s mascot and school symbol has passed away. Shasta VI, UH’s live cougar mascot who was housed at the Houston Zoo, died late Thursday, August 4, according to a joint UH/zoo announcement.

    The 11-year-old cougar had been suffering from a progressive spinal disease which had rapidly deteriorated over the past few days, according to a zoo treatment. As veterinary staff treated Shasta for the spinal condition, they discovered the cougar’s declining kidney function, a syndrome common in older felines.

    When it was clear that Shasta would not recover after a comprehensive assessment, the animal care and health teams made “the difficult decision” to euthanize him, per a zoo statement.

    “Shasta has been a cherished member of our Zoo family and an icon for the University of Houston for over a decade, said Kevin Hodge, vice president of animal programs at the Houston Zoo. “We are all deeply saddened by this loss. We are committed to ensuring the animals in our care experience the highest quality of life. That includes their day-to-day care as well as end-of-life decisions. With world-class animal keepers, incredible veterinarians, and a complete veterinary clinic, our animals receive the best possible care right up to their last days.”

    The beloved UH icon was often spotted sitting atop his habitat gazing at other species, especially elephants. Zoo staff, who adored him, remember him as a a true apex predator, stalking his keepers as they walked past him. The cougar was a fan favorite, drawing large crowds who would snap pictures of him as he struck graceful poses atop the rocks in his enclosure.

    Gregarious, curious, and lively, Shasta VI grew from an adorable, charming cub to a stately symbol of school pride. He was said to enjoy the attention that visitors, especially UH fans, lavished on him, especially during the annual ceremony when he would “guard” the class rings by sitting or standing atop a large red box containing the students’ jewelry.

    Shasta VI’s journey to Houston
    Shasta VI (his name denotes his No. 6 order in the UH cougar mascot lineage) was just a few months old when he arrived in Houston in December 2011. The young cougar and his two brothers were rescued in Washington state after their mother was illegally killed by a hunter. The cubs’ rescue was pivotal: only five weeks old at the time of their mother’s death, they stood little chance of survival in the wild.

    Not long after he arrived in the city, UH and the zoo entered into a partnership on March 24, 2012, where the young cougar was officially adopted and anointed UH’s mascot. UH alum, in the official Shasta bio, note that given his challenging background, Shasta represented “the spirit and tenacity of UH’s students and alumni, and personified the resilience and strength of the university.”

    Cherished UH traditions at the zoo included the aforementioned guarding of the rings, as well as Shasta’s birthday parties and his live appearances via webcam at UH football games.

    The Shasta name origin story
    As for the name: In 1947, the UH chapter Alpha Phi Omega fraternity purchased a cougar from a wildlife preserve, under the condition that the students could crowdfund for the cougar’s cage and habitat, per a UH historical blog.

    A naming contest in The Cougar daily newspaper ensued, yielding 225 submissions. Student Joe Randol won with the following submission: “Shasta (She has to). Shasta have a cage, Shasta have a keeper, Shasta have a winning ball club, Shasta have the best.” And with that, a legend was born.

    Shasta I, the first UH mascot who served from 1947-1962, was also the originator of the school’s “cougar” hand sign. According to UH lore, Shasta I was in an accident on the way to a game in 1953 and lost one of her front toes. Opposing University of Texas apparently mocked UH by imitating the injury.

    The Coogs, however, responded by adopting the gesture as a symbol of pride. Since then, UH alum flash the “cougar sign” by folding the ring finger of the right hand toward the palm.

    Remembering Shasta VI
    For now, Shasta VI is mourned by UH alum across the nation and world, with condolences pouring in — even from opposing schools.

    “With the help of the Houston Zoo, it was our honor at the UH Alumni Association to bring Shasta VI to the UH family,” said Mike Pede, associate vice president for alumni relations, in a statement. “Shasta’s service and symbolism of pride and school spirit will live on with all who went to see him, had their rings guarded by him or saw his handlers adorn his habitat with spirited notes of support. Rest easy good friend.”

    Shasta VI passed away at 11 after complications from spinal and kidney disease.

    Shasta VI UH university of houston Houston Zoo
      
    Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo
    Shasta VI passed away at 11 after complications from spinal and kidney disease.
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    news/city-life

    telling stories

    Black-owned Houston bookstore opens new home in historic Third Ward space

    Craig D. Lindsey
    May 13, 2025 | 2:45 pm
    Kindred Stories bookshore Eldorado Ballroom
    Photo by Craig D. Lindsey
    Kindred Stories has moved to its new location.

    Even though its grand reopening will be held this Saturday, May 17, Third Ward bookstore Kindred Stories has already begun a soft opening at its new location inside the Eldorado Ballroom at 2310 Elgin Street.

    Since September 2021, the Black-owned bookstore was located on Stuart St., one of many businesses that came to life thanks to Project Row Houses’ Incubation Program. Last year, the nonprofit informed Kindred and the other business that they had to vacate their premises at the end of this month to allow new businesses to occupy the spaces.

    Thankfully, Kindred already had its eye on the Eldorado location, next to neighborhood eatery The Rado Market (which has a collection of cookbooks curated by Kindred). It’s a space previously held by Hogan Brown Gallery, which abruptly closed in December. “I had caught wind that this space might be available,” Kindred founder/owner Terri Hamm tells CultureMap.

    Hamm turned the moving process into a fun little event for her and her loyal customers. “Last Tuesday, we invited about 20 of our top community members that, you know, are always in the store and have really supported us all of the year,” she says. “We packed up all the books in the space in an hour and, then, we moved everything in an hour. So it was like the beautiful way to close out that space in the midst of the community that has really supported us throughout three-and-a-half years there. And we spent the last four days kind of unboxing and just getting all set up.”

    Hamm says the new location is certainly roomier (around 1200 square feet) than their previous spot, which was only 450 square feet.

    “There's more room to just spend time in the store,” she says. “I feel like that's the ideal bookstore experience, when you can go in and really take your time. I feel like in the other space, it was so small, people kind of felt like they were in a rush.”

    Although Kindred is open and ready to welcome anyone looking for Black-and-proud literature, Hamm insists they’re only 90 percent done. More light fixtures need to be installed. Plants and furniture have to be brought. They even have custom-made wallpaper that needs to be installed.

    “So, we have a few little things that need to happen,” says Hamm, “And, then, I feel like the space will be really, really ready – probably in another six months.”

    In the meantime, it’s business as usual. This month’s calendar of events includes various appearances from authors as well as a couple of book clubs. Hamm is looking forward to new bookworms coming in and discovering what Kindred Stories has to offer.

    “The bestsellers are selling,” she says, “But I feel like, in this space, people are going to get to discover a lot of under-the-radar titles, just because there's more space to see the books and explore.”

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