Before Schwarzenegger, before Stallone, even before Muhammad Ali, there was Tommy Trojan - the original ironman. Created in 1930 as part of USC's 50th-birthday celebration, the majestic warrior has watched over the university for 65 years as a symbol of strength and courage. This retrospective on Tommy Trojan is part of an ongoing series marking the USC History Project. The years have been kind to Tommy, almost as if his form had been dipped in the Fountain of Youth. Like many public works of art, the Trojan shrine functions as more than a statue.
Campuses often revolve around something that they can respond to.
There's a need for these public spaces, for people to search them out. Tommy also serves as a peg on which to hang sentiments about the university, Willis said. He's a physical manifestation of the university, representing the image that reflects some of the qualities and values that we all tend to identify with. For alumni, Tommy provides a backdrop for many fond memories. We've put time there.