By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Jan. 17, 2001
President-elect George W. Bush's "biggest' celebrity guest for Saturday's inauguration festivities a 2,000 pound Longhorn Steer named Bevo XIII made a brief stop in the area last night.
Bevo is the mascot of the University of Texas and a special invited participant in Saturday's ceremonies. The steer took a rest during its trek from Austin, Texas to Washington on Monday at Kimbrell Farms in Causeyville.
Little said the idea of Bevo attending the inauguration probably came from Don Evans, a Bush adviser throughout the election and Secretary of Commerce nominee. Evans had served as a regent at the university for several years.
Bevo used the break to rest and eat Tuesday night before leaving this morning and heading into Knoxville, Tenn., and on to Washington by Friday.
The steer's strange name comes from an incident when Texas A&M beat the University of Texas in a 1916 football game and branded the score "13-0" on a steer.
The inauguration certainly won't be the first time the steer has been in the spotlight, according to Little. The steer romps on the turf before every one of the university's home games.
Justin Gilbert, one of the steer's handlers, says the steer's real name is "Sunrise Express" and that he is a world-famous show steer owned by Texan John T. Baker.
Although inauguration events are usually reserved for high-society types, Gilbert said Bush didn't hesitate to invite Bevo.
Gilbert said Bevo won't be confined to a pasture or a barn stall while guests at the ball dance and drink champagne, he'll be treated like any other invite and will be inside the hotel's ballroom with everyone else.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.