Leo's History

All of the funds for the care and feeding of Leo III, along with the operation and maintenance of his habitat, come from donations and sponsorships.

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April 14, 1973

Leo I Born in Knoxville, TN at a wildlife refuge

July 22, 1974

Leo I Comes to UNA
Brought to UNA by President Guillot

1974 - 1988

Leo I builds our tradition of having a live mascot on campus

January 20, 1988

Leo I passes away

July 1988

Leo II comes to UNA

April 28, 1997

Leo II named “Second Best Mascot” by Sports Illustrated

1988 - 2000

Leo II carries on the proud tradition of live mascots at UNA

March 2, 2000

Leo II passes away

2002

George H. Carroll habitat built on UNA campus

November 18, 2002

Leo III and Una (“You-na”) born in New Hampshire

2002 - Present

Anne Howard begins caring for Leo III and
Una and remains their primary caregiver.

2003

Leo III and Una move into the George H. Carroll habitat

2003 - Present

UNA is proud of our volunteers and fundraisers who make it possible for us to have the only live lion mascots in the United States currently living on campus.
Roar Lions!

Leo I

Leo was born April 14, 1973, in Knoxville, Tennessee. On July 22 of that year, University President Dr. Robert Guillot acquired Leo and brought him to UNA. Leo lived in the Guillot’s garage until the first habitat was completed on campus. After his arrival, Leo grew quickly from a shy 35-pound cub to nearly 500 pounds as an adult under the care of Dr. Phil Davis, his veterinarian. Leo’s first real birthday party took place when he was two years old, and he enjoyed the attention he received that day. The party included two cakes made by Mrs. Guillot, a lion shaped cake for guests and a special meat cake for Leo. April 14 is still celebrated each year as a birthday for our live mascots

Leo II

Leo II was born in early 1988 at a Texas safari ranch. He was originally named Moses and had a twin brother named Aaron. He came to UNA at five months old in July 1988. Leo II grew to more than 600 pounds. He was named Second Best Mascot in America in the April 28, 1997, issue of Sports Illustrated. Leo II reigned over the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Division II National Football Championships. He died at Auburn University March 2, 2000, while undergoing tests.

Leo III and Una

Una and Leo III were born November 18, 2002, at a wildlife refuge in New Hampshire. They flew to UNA when they were just six weeks old in a Learjet donated by a UNA supporter. They weighed nine and 10 pounds, respectively, when they got here. In 2012, Leo III and Una were ranked No. 1 of the 25 Best Real Animal Mascots in College Football by totalprosports.com. UNA was the only non-Division I institution to make the list, joining the company of competitive NCAA teams such as the Baylor Bears, LSU Tigers, and Texas Longhorns. Today, Leo III weighs approximately 500 pounds. Una weighed approximately 300 pounds before she passed away in the summer of 2020. UNA and the Shoals community celebrate with a Lion Birthday party every year as close to April 14 as possible to commemorate the birthdate of our first UNA lion, Leo I. Local veterinarians Dr. Randall Smith, Dr. Matt Connolly, Dr. Bill Connolly and Dr. Brandon Fisher are providing the finest medical care as a charitable contribution.

The Howards – Our Lion Keepers

In 2002, Dr. Dan Howard and his wife Annemarie Howard brought two lion cubs, Leo III Una, back to the Shoals from their birthplace in New Hampshire. The couple kept the cubs at their home through the duration of the construction of the George H. Carroll Lion Habitat, which was large enough to accommodate two growing lions. Throughout the time spent with the Howards, the lion cubs formed a bond with Anne and Dan, the couple often taking turns bottle-feeding little Leo III and Una.

 Pretty soon, it was time for the lions to move into the habitat, and the Howards were most always there, preparing their meals, providing treats, and watching them grow into majestic creatures. Dan and Anne worked closely with local veterinarians, Dr. Matt Connolly and Dr. Brandon Fisher, to provide ongoing care throughout the lives of Leo III and Una. In June of 2020, Una passed away after veterinarians found an inoperable tumor.

 Dr. Dan Howard passed away in January of 2022, and Anne continued the tradition of spending her days with Leo III and working with a group of individuals internally at UNA as well as externally to ensure Leo III would continue to receive the best care. Mrs. Anne passed away suddenly in January of 2024, and her legacy continues to live on in Leo III and his ongoing health and vitality.