By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer

Goodrich – A new high school mural could straighten out 70 years of fallacies about the Goodrich Martian mascot.
Within weeks, students and visitors will see the mythological Roman god of war and his female counterpart Venus emblazoned in three-dimensional colors across the east wall of the Goodrich High School gym.
The GHS Class of 2004 is donating the mural, painted on 4-by-8 foot sections of signboard by artist Dave Wiley of Jefferson, Ga. Wiley has created the unique mascot murals for more than 250 schools, many in Michigan.
School officials are adamant the Martian mascot has nothing to do with little green men. Nor does it hail from Greek mythology.
According to the school Web page titled ‘History of the Martian mascot?, Goodrich students were called the Goodrich Gladiators prior to the 1930s, when the farming community’s school system was known as Goodrich Rural Agricultural Schools. The Martian mascot pays tribute to the school’s farm roots, since the Roman deity was also known as the god of farm land (see http://www.goodrich.k12.mi.us/HighSchool/staff/martus/historyofthemartianmascot.htm).
Kara Kvasnicka, Goodrich branch librarian of the Genesee District Library provided more details on the Martians? namesake.
According to the World Book Encyclopedia, the ancient Romans considered Mars especially important, since his offspring were deemed the legendary founders of Rome. Romans honored the agricultural god by naming the month of March for him, which marked the beginning of the Roman growing season. Mars eventually took on warrior aspects, thanks to the influence of the Greek god Ares, and Romans took to giving Mars a share of the spoils after success in battle.
On the 12-by-30 foot mural, Mars and Venus will be painted as a formidable presence, with gold coins and brightly-colored jewels scattered at their feet. Against a backdrop of clouds, the deities are elevated atop Mount Olympus, the traditional perch for mythological gods during ancient athletic games performed in their honor.
The seamlessly-joined mural shapes will hang directly above the bleachers across from the hallway entrances.
‘The bottom of the mountain will look like it’s coming right out of the wall,? says Trisha McElrath, one of the sponsors for the Class of 2004.
‘It appears as if it’s growing right out of the top of the bleachers, like you could climb right up to Mount Olympus,? said Wiley.
McElrath was first impressed by a unique Wiley mural in North Branch, Mich. She tracked down the artist, asking him to design a Goodrich mural for about $3,000, all the class had to spend.
Since Wiley’s murals normally run at least $5,000 to $7,000, it took some convincing.
Loathe to see a run-of-the-mill spray-painted mural in the gym, Wiley agreed to paint the creation in exchange for $3,000, some publicity, and a case of Coca Cola when the sections are installed later this month.
‘He’s cut us a heck of a deal,? said McElrath, who’s also thrilled by Wiley’s offer to remount gym flags, which parents will remove prior to the mural’s installation.
The oil and acrylic mural is intended to show visitors who the Martians are. If the Goodrich mural is anything like Wiley’s other murals, it may also inspire a bit of awe.
‘People don’t just look at it and go away, it pulls them in,? says Wiley, recounting the case of one videotaped event where the visiting team’s camera was turned away from the game, focusing instead on the home team’s mural.
Some Class of 2004 members, like Central Michigan University student Rachel Samuelson are already planning to return for a glimpse of the mural, says McElrath, along with a plaque describing the Martian mascot history.
‘I think it’ll really dress that gym up,? McElrath says. ‘We love the flags, we love showing off our athletic success, but this’ll give it some color.?
To learn more about artist Dave Wiley’s murals, go to http://www.geocities.com/davewileygraphics.