From the mid-1930s up until 1961, Kutztown's sports teams were known as the Golden Avalanche. In 1961, Kutztown replaced the Golden Avalanche nickname with the Golden Bears as the university's nickname. In later years, Golden Bear mascots came into play. Before 2005, Goldie and Griz served as the KU Golden Bear mascots. However, they were both "graduated" to make way for a new mascot. The Raymond Entertainment Group of Newark, Delaware, helped KU create the new mascot. On October 1, 2005, at Kutztown's football game versus West Chester University, Kutztown University unveiled Avalanche as the school's new mascot. Avalanche is so named to honor Kutztown State College during the time of the Golden Avalanche sports teams. The Golden Bears can be seen in more places than the sports fields. Golden Bear statues are located near the basketball courts on South Campus and on North Campus near the Boehm Science Building. Along with the statues, several residential areas are named after the Golden Bear. Golden Bear Village South behind University Place and Golden Bear Village West next to Rothermel Hall are student apartments which hold the Golden Bear moniker. Notable alumni A. J. Petrucci, former professional wrestler Andre Reed, former professional football player, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins. Member of Professional Football Hall of Fame Arenda Wright Allen, United States district judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Arthur Granville Dewalt, former U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania Bill Beckley, conceptual artist Bill DeMott, former professional wrestler Bob Cesca, columnist for Salon Brian Nichols, criminal notable for his escape and killing spree in the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta Bruce Harper, former professional football player, New York Jets Craig Reynolds, professional football player Craig Rivera, journalist, producer and correspondent for Fox News Channel Don Everhart, coin and medal engraver-medalist for United States Mint Doug Dennison, former running back for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys; also played in the now-defunct United States Football League Eric D. Schaeffer, theater director and producer Gary G. Lash, United States geologist George S. Messersmith, United States ambassador to Austria, Cuba, Mexico and Argentina, United States Assistant Secretary of State Gus Yatron, former U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania Guy L. Moser, former U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania Harry Hoch, former Major League baseball pitcher Isaac Hoffer Doutrich, former U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania James Delgrosso, Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (2003–2004) Jeremy Culver, film director, screenwriter and producer Joe