There's A New Lady In Town

With seven children of her own, Baylor First Lady Sue Sloan knows how to give a bottle, but this "baby" was a little different. 
A strapping 15-pounder with a cinnamon-colored fur coat, the 5-month-old North American Black Bear cub's official name is "Judge Sue Sloan," although she will be called Lady. The mascot was introduced to her namesake, as well as to Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. and some of the Sloan family, June 24 at the Allbritton House on campus. 
The naming honor was kept a secret from Baylor's first lady until the pair met on the Sloans' front lawn. Sue Sloan, a 1970 Baylor graduate, said she was "astonished" by the honor, which she shares with her family and in memory of her late parents, J.D. and Lucy Collier of Cisco. 
"My parents, who didn't go to college, were big Baylor fans," Sue Sloan said. "My brothers attended Baylor and we came to football games when I was in grade school. In fact, my family still has the same season tickets. They've just added more seats through the years."
Dr. Sloan agreed that his wife's parents bled green and gold.
"Her dad and mom adopted Baylor, but I bet they never thought a bear would be named after their daughter," he said.
Lady's trainer is Adam Ylitalo, a senior chemistry major, who said deciding on the namesake was easy. "Last year, Mrs. Sloan invited the Baylor Chamber of Commerce to dinner at the president's home," Ylitalo said. "Then right before the first home football game of the season, we saw her out cleaning up around the bear pit to get everything ready for fans coming to campus. She really deserves this honor, and I think it's really neat that both first ladies have been honored in this way." 
The current mascot, Joy, a 17-month-old bear, was named for Joy Reynolds, the wife of Baylor President Emeritus Herbert H. Reynolds, who also had a bear named for him -- Chance, now 3, who was christened with Dr. Reynolds' nickname. Chance was retired in June to Bear Country USA in South Dakota. 
Not only has the recent naming of the mascots been kept in the Baylor presidential family, but the mascots also are family. Joy is Lady's older sister and both were born at the same private Oregon ranch.