Navy Bill is a sculpture of the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

's mascot, ''

Bill the Goat Bill the Goat is the mascot of the United States Naval Academy. The mascot is a live goat and is also represented by a costumed midshipman. There is also a bronze statue of the goat in the north end zone of Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadi ...

'', a

billy goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

. It was designed by Clemente Spampinato in 1956, and presented to the academy in 1957. Until 2010, the sculpture stood just inside Gate 1 to the academy. Following a five-year refurbishment underwritten by the Class of 1965, the statue was returned to Gate 1. A second statue commissioned by the Class of 1965 was placed in the north end zone of

Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an open-air stadium located off the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Opened in 1959, it serves as the home stadium of the Navy Midshipmen college football and lacrosse team ...

on 9 June 2015. It was rededicated 24 October 2015. ''Navy Bill'' has the alternate name of ''Goat Mascot''.

Description

The base is granite and measures . The surmounting sculpture is bronze and measures . ''Navy Bill'' was noted as needing treatment in 1994. It was refurbished by the Class of 1965 in 2015. Sculptor Tony Thamasangvarn and the Baltimore New Arts Foundry added "rank insignia, warfare devices, shrapnel from Vietnam, and a cube of steel from a nuclear submarine" donated by the class in the recast ''Navy Bill'' at the football stadium. The N on ''Navy Bill's'' blanket is a

varsity letter A varsity letter (or monogram) is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its recipient was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met. Description ...

, while the two stars ("N-stars" in Academy parlance) represent two victories over

West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

in annual Army-Navy varsity competitions.

Inscriptions

Inscribed on the sculpture's bronze foundation is ''CLEM SPAMPINATO © 1956'' to the back and '' MODERN ART FDRY. NY'' to the front. On a plaque behind the sculpture: On a small plaque in front of the sculpture:

History

The main inscription's attribution to 1890 legend is not agreed with in modern study. The first use of a live goat as the academy's mascot was 1893. ''Navy Bill'' is the inspiration for the academy's sports logo.

References

{{coord, 38.9786, -76.4838, type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-MD, display=title Monuments and memorials in Maryland 1956 sculptures United States Naval Academy