Creator of Clemson's Tiger Paw Has Died

It's a sad day in Tiger Town, as the creator of Clemson's beloved tiger paw has died.

John Antonio, 83, the designer of Clemson's Tiger Paw logo, died Thursday, May 30 in Greenville after a long bout with cancer, according to Clemson's Sports Information Department.

According to a release from Clemson, Antonio designed the logo in the spring of 1970 and it was introduced at six separate press conferences around the state of South Carolina, Charlotte and Atlanta, by Head Football Coach Hootie Ingram, Head Basketball Coach Tates Locke, All-ACC running back Ray Yauger and University Vice President Wright Bryan, on July 21, 1970.

Antonio, who at the time was working for Henderson Adverstising, had been assigned the project by Jimmy Henderson, a Clemson alum and president of the advertising firm. According to the release, Antonio spent time researching tiger logos all over the country, before contacting the National Museum of History and asking for a plaster-of-paris cast of the imprint of a Bengal Tiger's paw.

Using the imprint and tilting it slightly to the right, the new logo was created.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at First Presbyterian in Greenville.