It had been 1977, the newest few days of your own yearly competition sports game ranging from Clemson and the College or university from Sc, the season out of “The new Hook,” when Steve Thicker ’79 struck Jerry Butler ’80 to help you winnings in the last few seconds.

Zan Wells however will get thrilled when she covers it. “It had been my personal suggestion,” she says, “decorate Tiger Paws of Greenville of up to Columbia.”

Their partner, Joel Wells ’57, bought toward tip, and so they been performs. Zan produced stencils regarding brownish kraft paper; it determined a correct Sherwin-Williams paint shade of tangerine. They tested the actual suggestion in their garage.

Joel held an event of almost every other alumni and you may loved ones who have been equally eager – on Holiday Inn on the We-twenty-six inside Clinton. He and Zan marketed kraft papers templates of your Tiger Paw and additionally color requirement. A few days before games, the fresh new templates was indeed shared with a more impressive group having tight advice.

50 short groups were tasked just one otherwise a few weird-numbered kilometer markers between Mauldin and you will Columbia, with rules is at the the appointed distance marker during the 2 a good.m., ready to paint good Tiger Paw in the exact middle of this new right-hands way regarding I-385 and that i-twenty-six.

The original paw in Mauldin was assigned to Joel’s sister Jimmy Wells ’54. Predicated on Zan, Jimmy and Friend Wallace ’56 reached the attraction, left and you can got the device aside if the Mauldin Police drove up-and asked about whatever they had been undertaking.

“Modifying vehicle operators” is the latest brief impulse, and additionally they threw everything back in the auto. Some time spooked, it don’t come back to end.

Immediately following one, my personal mobile phone rang, and trustee emeritus Allen Timber asked, “However, what are the tale regarding whenever Tiger Paws was in fact decorated all the way away from Greenville so you can Columbia?

Thus Zan and you will Joel painted this one once they completed its own task. “Next i drove as high as Columbia to ensure they certainly were most of the painted,” says Zan.

Cal McMeekin ’65 was assigned the final mile marker coming towards Columbia toward We-26. He had been waiting. He previously taken an excellent jigsaw and a piece away from step 3/4-inches plywood and you may utilized the brownish report stencil to produce good tough plywood stencil. “That have a painting roller,” he says, “you might set one upon new street and get they done in 15 to 20 mere seconds.”

One to earliest paw ran rapidly it chose to keep going – “down Huger Path, so you can Bluff Roadway, as well as on for the arena.”

They were equipped with CB radios, and every team had a single-day “handle” to understand their place and declaration completion

“We coated an extra paw at the conclusion of I-126 where Elmwood Path forks out to the newest leftover,” claims McMeekin. “From the a distance off Huger Street we put a 3rd paw.” As they was basically doing one to third paw, it realized that these people were almost in direct front side of your Richland Condition Sheriff’s Institution and you may condition jail.

“I realized it was not the newest wisest material to have a 34-year-old that have a partner and relatives as starting,” claims McMeekin. “The very next day, the past paw toward Huger Highway appeared in The official papers in addition to a narrative regarding the paintings.” One photos still hangs into the McMeekin’s work environment at their household.

It will be the brand of prank you could potentially anticipate away from a group away from people. But, McMeekin states, “These paws weren’t decorated from the students, but by the thirty five- so you’re able to fifty-year-olds that have a passion for Clemson and you will a soul of getting fun.”

Editor’s notice: Regarding the fall 2022 issue, we ran a story about the first Tiger Paws coated toward the getbride.org Ekstra ressurser road causing Clemson. You should talk to Cal McMeekin.”

One to call been a procedure that has ended with this specific story – and you can all of our appreciation so you’re able to Allen Wood to own providing us with a tip.