The University of Illinois retired its longtime mascot, Chief Illiniwek, in March because the symbol was offensive to some American Indians. Some Illini fans are still none too happy with this development.
Tom Heinrich of Dwight, Ill., decided not to let the memory of Chief Illiniwek perish. He had an old elm tree trunk in his front yard carved into the likeness of the dancing Indian mascot and added these words: “The Chief Forever,” reports the Kankakee Daily Journal.
The statue is not a political statement and not part of an organized effort, Heinrich said.
“It’s just kind of my tribute to Chief Illiniwek,” he said. “If the chief no longer exists at the university, he exists in some form here. ‘The Chief Forever’ is a slogan some of us have adopted.” […]
Reaction “has been incredible,” Heinrich said, “My office is in my home and more often than not when I look out the window, somebody is taking a picture. It’s been a lot of fun. Everything has been very positive; no negatives at all.”
The Chief Illiniwek statue is at Prairie and Waubonsie streets, the latter which is old Route 66.
The pcers strike again. I didn’t go to Illinois, but am very sorry to have the chief retired. He was a long-standing tradition at the U of I. A part of history has passed.