What’s A “Little John?”
When Danville High School was formed, its mascot was chosen. The exact reason for having chosen Little Johns is a continuous question.
Right after World Ward II, the mascot of Danville High School was changed to “Wildcats”. The town’s people and former students could not or would not accept it. After one unsatisfactory year, the mascot was changed again. By popular demand, the Danville High School mascot was once again “Little Johns.”
Often, students, faculty, and other citizens of our town are confronted with “What is a Little John?” I, for one can never think of a brief, factual answer. Usually, I say, “Just about the best.”
This answer satisfies no one, including me. We have been pictured as Indians, Robin Hood characters and Pirates.
The name Little Johns is directly related to the river which flows through our town, the Petit Jean River. This river was named for a small French girl named Jean. Petit is French for small and Jean is French for John.
This girl’s courage against insurmountable odds to survive was quite impressive. As her legend tells us, she died after having reached freedom in our country. She was buried on Petit Jean Mountain.
To me, a Little John is something great. Drawing a picture of a Little John would be like drawing what an American is supposed to look like. Everyone in this country would have a different idea for the picture. Being a Little John, like being an American is a deep feeling. This feeling is shared by our whole town.
Little John stands for courage. The courage and strength to defeat athletic teams from towns twice, even three times our size. Little Johns stands for “PRIDE”. A certain pride that makes students proud of their school.
Little John stands for “HONOR”. A kind of honor that leaves a lasting impression on every person a Little John comes in contact with. Little John stands for “HAPPINESS”. A feeling in our hearts. A feeling that means, once a Little John always a Little John.
A Little John isn’t a picture on paper or an emblem on a flag. A Little John can be a person who never went to school in Danville. A Little John can be a man, woman, or child. All you have to have to be a Little John is that feeling.
This feeling has won state football championships, state track championships, and many basketball tournaments. This feeling turns out a great school yearbook, unforgettable school papers, and a number one band.
Last, but not least, this feeling turns out everlasting Little Johns.
Written by Lisa Parker, An Everlasting “Little John”