Navy Bill

Description

A large bronze sculpture of a charging billy goat stands atop a rectangular stone base. On the side of the goat is an N and two stars.

The base is granite and measures 48 by 30 by 86 inches (1.22 m × 0.76 m × 2.18 m). The surmounting sculpture is bronze and measures 50 by 27 by 87 inches (1.27 m × 0.69 m × 2.21 m). 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, while the two stars ("N-stars" in Academy parlance) represent two victories over West Point 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:

THE NAVY MASCOT THE NAVAL ACADEMY HAS HAD A GOAT AS ITS MASCOT SINCE 1890 WHEN, ACCORDING TO LEGEND, ON THEIR MARCH FROM THE FERRY STATION AT HIGHLAND FALLS UP THE STEEP HILL TO WEST POINT TO PLAY THE FIRST ARMY-NAVY FOOTBALL GAME THE NAVAL CADETS (AS THEY WERE THEN KNOWN) SAW A GOAT OUTSIDE THE NONCOMS HOUSES AT WEST POINT AND PROMPTLY COMMANDEERED "BILLY" FOR THEIR MASCOT. SINCE THAT TIMETHE GOAT HAS REMAINED AS THE RECOGNIZED MASCOT OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY.

On a small plaque in front of the sculpture:

PRESENTED BY THE CLASS OF 1915 MAY 15, 1957

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.