Congratulations to FirefightnRick - Retirement after 30-years

[Harry]

Congrats to long time UNT supporter and fan Rick McKinney (BBA '90) on his retirement after 30-years of public service with the Fort Worth fire department.   Thank you Rick for your many contributions UNT athletics and the community.  Go Mean Green!

[SUMG]

Awesome......congrats Rick!

[untcampbell]

An iconic and passionate fan, but more important an honorable service man to the citizens of Fort Worth. Thank you for your service, Rick. 

On to the next chapter, amigo.

 

GMG

[DeepGreen]

Congratulations Rick!  Enjoy your retirement.

[cousin oliver]

Congratulations.  That is a long time to be working in such a dangerous field.  I hope you enjoy your twilight years as you have earned it.

[Mean Green 93-98]

Thank you for your years of service, Rick.  Congratulations on your retirement!

[MCMLXXX]

6 minutes ago, cousin oliver said:

I hope you enjoy your twilight years as you have earned it.

"Twilight years" seems a bit ominous for a person that young.  I think it is great he was able to retire at such a young age. Congratulations on your retirement FFR.

[Jonnyeagle]

Congratulations Rick!  Proud of you and your service.  I also particularly appreciate your participation and support of the Talons and the cannon as well. 

[UNTLifer]

That is awesome.  Congratulations on a well deserved retirement.

[NT80]

Congrats Rick!   Great NT fan and friend. 

Now you can continue your movie career...

"There was an even larger role waiting for one new graduate. Rick McKinney (’90) was looking for a job when he was approached by Jim Hobdy (’69), then UNT’s assistant athletic director of marketing, about a request from Paramount to be in the film.

"I got a call from the assistant head costumer, Barry Kellogg,” McKinney recalls, “and later that month, I met head costumer Dan Moore, who took me to Dallas to get costume fit for the Armadillo mascot suit."

Letter jacket given to the players and mascot during filming on campus.

As a former member of Talons who had a passion for football and served as the Eagle mascot Eppy (later re-named Scrappy) during UNT basketball games, McKinney was hired as Rowdy the Armadillo. He also served as the equipment liaison between the film crew and the athletic department.

"The filming was different than anything I had ever experienced, in life, playing ball, going to school, and growing up on a farm. The people you were side-by-side with were the sweetest folks ever, but the hours were extremely long," McKinney says."

https://northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2022-spring/necessary-roughness-turns-30

[DeepGreen]

Rick, I want to know how much "moola" you earned playing the part of the Armadillo mascot?  You must have been rolling in the dough after that gig.

[MeanGreenTexan]

Congratulations Rick!

[greenminer]

"Twilight years"?! My friend, this is just the beginning.

[Big Z]

Congrats!

[NT80]

30 minutes ago, DeepGreen said:

Rick, I want to know how much "moola" you earned playing the part of the Armadillo mascot?  You must have been rolling in the dough after that gig.

I think it was more for the opportunity to mingle with co-workers on the set...

[golfingomez]

31 minutes ago, NT80 said:

I think it was more for the opportunity to mingle with co-workers on the set...

Scott Bakula?

[golfingomez]

1 hour ago, NT80 said:

Congrats Rick!   Great NT fan and friend. 

Now you can continue your movie career...

"There was an even larger role waiting for one new graduate. Rick McKinney (’90) was looking for a job when he was approached by Jim Hobdy (’69), then UNT’s assistant athletic director of marketing, about a request from Paramount to be in the film.

"I got a call from the assistant head costumer, Barry Kellogg,” McKinney recalls, “and later that month, I met head costumer Dan Moore, who took me to Dallas to get costume fit for the Armadillo mascot suit."

Letter jacket given to the players and mascot during filming on campus.

As a former member of Talons who had a passion for football and served as the Eagle mascot Eppy (later re-named Scrappy) during UNT basketball games, McKinney was hired as Rowdy the Armadillo. He also served as the equipment liaison between the film crew and the athletic department.

"The filming was different than anything I had ever experienced, in life, playing ball, going to school, and growing up on a farm. The people you were side-by-side with were the sweetest folks ever, but the hours were extremely long," McKinney says."

https://northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2022-spring/necessary-roughness-turns-30

Fill me in, older alums, did we used to paint the stadium seating? what am i seeing in the background?

 

[Zeleny' Orel]

Job well done, Rick, for both the fire department and UNT athletics...now you have more time to spend on your desired passions!  Will always remember you taking my nephew to spend a day/night at the fire department when he became interested in being a fire fighter...still one of the highlights of his life!  Didn't go that route but he was so impressed and you only knew me as fellow Mean Green fan.  Thanks and congratulations to a great guy!

[LongJim]

Retirement is a great thing, so I've heard.  Congrats!

[JT Hammons]

Best to you and the family Rick!  Well deserved.  Hope you get a chance to relax and fish and spend time with your grand babies.

[keith]

1 hour ago, golfingomez said:

Fill me in, older alums, did we used to paint the stadium seating? what am i seeing in the background?

 

Yes, on the student side.

[keith]

Congrats Rick.  Now that you have some free time on your hands, you'll finally be able to do something for your alma mater!

I kid, I kid!!  

Enjoy the next phase.

[MCMLXXX]

1 hour ago, golfingomez said:

Fill me in, older alums, did we used to paint the stadium seating? what am i seeing in the background?

 

Those areas were actually painted by individual Fraternities and Sororities which helps explain the various color schemes and lettering.

They would sit in the areas they had painted.

[Stix]

Congratulations, Rick!

 

[Stix]

It's always mentioned that Rick was "seen but unseen" as the armadillo mascot, but he did get one second (two?) of face time when he fired the cannon: