The Redwood Ranger

By: Annabelle Williamson

Redwood’s mascot wasn’t always Mr. Ranger. For years, Redwood was called Union High School and carried the colors of maroon and white and had a Pioneer representing them. After this, our mascot looked distinctly like the COS Giant’s giant. Then, in 1972, our mascot changed once again, this time to Mr. Ranger.

It is often assumed that Mr. Grady, the principal at the time, was the one who the mural was based off of. Mr. Grady was famous for leaning as the Redwood Ranger is shown doing. Although many people today still believe in this conspiracy, it is incorrectly assumed that the mural was done of Mr. Grady

Sabin Gray, who graduated in ‘75 painted the mural on the gym wall during his freshman year. Gray now lives in Morro Bay and owns a tourist shop called Hooray for Hollywood. He attended the California State University in Fullerton for art and graphic design. Gray worked with several magazines during his career and did a record album cover for Nancy Sinatra. “I also worked in Hollywood and was the research consultant to the 1980 ABC TV movie, ‘Marilyn- The Untold Story’, and several documentaries on Jayne Mansfield.” Gray said.

Although Gray is often credited for the design of the mural, he did not create the image as it was a common logo at the time. “I simply blew it up from a band fundraiser chocolate bar wrapper. I don’t know who created the Redwood Ranger logo, which I think was done in the 1950’s.” Gray told the Gigantea.

Gray was hired to paint the mural of the Ranger for $100, which was considered a lot of money in 1972. “The art teacher, Joe DeTevis asked me to do it because I was his best art student at the time and the building was new and had blank walls. The athletic department approached the art department to have it done for the school” Gray explained.

It was Gray’s first public art piece which won him fame by his classmates. “My senior class photo is a large panoramic one shot in the gym with everyone on the bleachers under that mural. I’m still proud of it.”

Although the logo has changed many times throughout Redwood’s history, it seems like the Redwood Ranger logo is here to stay. The painting is a symbol of our history and thanks to Sabin Gray, the mural is here to stay too.