Note: The following appears in the Duke football gameday program.
From starring on the gridiron as a high school quarterback in Laurens, S.C., to donning a new uniform as the Tiger mascot, Thomas Lowry (’25) firmly left his paw prints on Clemson University. The construction science & management graduate and first-ever legacy in 75 years of the Tiger mascot made more than 300 appearances during his Clemson career, following in the footsteps of his father, Martin Lowry (’88).
What’s your Clemson story?
ML: My parents graduated from Clemson University. My family is full of engineers, so it made sense for me to go to school at Clemson. When I was here, I was involved in a fraternity. My roommate and some friends wanted to try out to be cheerleaders. I thought that was what I wanted to do, but I quickly realized I didn’t enjoy that. A friend suggested that I try out to be the Tiger (mascot). I decided to try out and earned a backup position, which was junior varsity at the time. The next year, I moved up to varsity.
TL: I was accepted through the Tigertown Summer Bound program and got involved in a fraternity. My dad suggested I try out to be the Tiger (mascot), but he didn’t push too hard. I was looking for a way to get involved, so I decided to give it a shot. I worked a full baseball game and did a bunch of pushups. They ended up liking me enough for a second-round interview. I told them my father was the Tiger (mascot) and they offered me the position. During that summer, I started doing appearances. I picked up baseball in the spring and realized that was my passion. I loved being in the ballpark and being around people. The rest is history.
What was your favorite part of being the Tiger mascot?
ML: My favorite part was being around the kids. They’re attracted to and are closely watching the Tiger (mascot), especially the young ones who aren’t watching the game, but they can tell you what the Tiger (mascot) is doing.
TL: I enjoyed seeing how much the Tiger (mascot) can bring people together. They might not have a single thing in common, other than a love for Clemson. You never know what people are going through, but you can make their day as the Tiger (mascot).
How do you think your role as the Tiger mascot shaped the Clemson experience for people?
ML: John Seketa, a longtime administrator in Clemson athletics, once told me, “Don’t forget that you’re the most visible and recognizable emblem for the university.” The fact people recognize the Tiger mascot as one of the symbols of Clemson is important.
TL: Hopefully, I brought people together and brought a positive impact to people who didn’t know much about Clemson.
What was it like being a mascot alongside friend and Clemson softball benefactor Stuart McWhorter?
ML: We were Tiger mascots together my senior year. Stuart and I are still very good friends. He was my little brother in our fraternity, so that’s how we knew each other. He wanted to try out to be the Tiger (mascot), and I was very supportive of that. We were in each other’s weddings. We’ve been friends a long time and are still close. Our football tickets are located together in the stadium. It’s been amazing to see his impact on Clemson. He loves this place. All three of his children have attended school here.
How does it feel to be the only Tiger mascot legacy duo in Clemson history?
TL: It is unique. I have a totally different version of the Tiger (mascot). It’s not my father’s version. But I learned a lot about his version that helped shape my version. When people find out my dad was the Tiger (mascot), they think it’s a cool story. It helped me find my place at Clemson.
