Bill 35 has moved on to greener pastures, the U.S. Naval Academy announced Tuesday.
The goat mascot was just 2½ years old. He suffered from idiopathic edema and related disorders that appeared to be caused by chronic kidney weakness, U.S. Naval Academy officials said. He was being treated for a recent illness in Pennsylvania, where doctors determined that because of his low likelihood of improvement, he should be euthanized.
Bill 35 arrived at the U.S. Naval Academy last August. He was a shy, sweet goat with a fluffy coat, said Jenny Erickson, director of media relations for the U.S. Naval Academy. She said his brother, known as Bill 36, is also a mascot.
The Bill in the name of all the mascots is short for Bill the Goat, said Commander John Schofield, spokesman for the Naval Academy.
But how in the world did goats become a Navy household name? Legend says it began with a goat that died on a Navy ship. Two officers who were entrusted with the animal’s skin stopped by a football game and wore it as part of a makeshift halftime show. The rest is shear history.
“Bill 35 was a member of the Naval Academy family and we certainly mourn his loss,” Schofield said. “The mascots’ presence on the sidelines means a lot to the Brigade of Midshipmen; it means a lot to the fans and to the citizens in Annapolis as well.”
Memorial arrangements have not been announced.
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