Every school is remembered through its mascot, but at Del Mar High School, the meaning of the don has sparked curiosity and debate; the Don has represented Del Mar for decades and it seems its legacy has been forgotten.
The definition of a Don is a Spanish nobleman, while many sources vary, stating the Don is a landowner, a conquistador, or even a high-ranking mafia member. Even though many members of the Del Mar community are unsure about what the exact definition of a Don is, students had different thoughts on the mascot. For many students, being a Don represents tradition and pride.
Senior Sophie Marie Blanco Hammond says, “Honestly, it’s a bit odd, considering other schools have, like, animal mascots style, and we’re the only ones, I think, or at least in this district, to have a human one.”
Ashtryd Durana, a sophomore, said, To be a don means to be a student at Del Mar and to show school spirit.
Many efforts have been made to change the mascot. William Burkhead, Director of Performing Arts, said, “Over 26 years, many conversations have come up about changing the mascot, but it has never gone far enough without strong support from the community.”
In 2020, a questionnaire about changing the mascot was in circulation, but due to the global pandemic, it was never revisited. “You know there’s certainly an alumni association that would like to see and stay with the Dons,” Mr. Burkhead said.
Before we had the official Del Mar Don, we had a living mascot, Mr. Pitcher Long. According to a comment on an alumni Facebook post, Mary Ann Morrel, class of 1962, stated, “Remember Mr. Long? He was our live mascot at the games and was at school most days. He enjoyed talking to everyone.” Mr. Pitcher Long was our real life Don before the costume.
The Don’s meaning goes even deeper. Principal Nguyen said, “In my research, a Don is a historical model man. My vision of the Don is tied to literature and affirmation—it can represent leadership, courage, and respect.” When asked how the Don represents Del Mar, Blanco Hammond said, “To conquer all your studies.”
There is no single way to define the don, but it has an important meaning to Del Mar and its students. It represents leadership, hard work and provides school spirit.
