Dear Members of the Board of Regents and UNLV Leadership,
As a proud graduate of UNLV’s Class of 1984 and 1989, I write to you not only as an alum, but as the son of the man who created one of the most iconic and beloved symbols of our university — the Hey Reb! mascot. Bring Him Back!
My father, Mike Miller, was a gifted, Disney-trained artist who devoted much of his life to enriching the cultural and visual identity of Las Vegas. In 1982, he was asked to create a new mascot for UNLV that would be free of the Confederate symbolism of earlier figures, but still embody the rebellious, independent spirit that defined UNLV’s origins and student body. What he gave the university — for just $1 — was a character drawn from the lore of the American West: a mountain man, a trailblazer, a fearless symbol of boldness and individuality. Hey Reb! wasn’t just a cartoon — he was the spirit of Southern Nevada made visible.
This wasn’t just a design job to my dad. It was personal. He was deeply inspired by the grit and creativity of early settlers, pathfinders, and yes, rebels — not of war, but of spirit. The name Hey Reb! was intentionally playful, inviting, and inclusive. When the mascot made his debut at the UNLV-UNR basketball game in 1982, he was met with celebration from students, athletes, alumni, and the wider Las Vegas community. And once again, at last night’s UCLA v UNLV football game, the spirit of Hey Reb! was reawakened with a fervor.
For decades, Hey Reb! stood proudly as a unifying symbol on our campus. His image appeared in national commercials, championship celebrations, and even inspired a life-size bronze statue funded by alumni. In 2011, my father was formally recognized by the UNLV Alumni Association for his contribution, and Hey Reb! stood beside him at the Thomas & Mack Center — a moment we, as a family, will never forget.
My father passed away in 2014 after a battle with cancer. We were honored to have Hey Reb! attend his memorial service. To this day, seeing that mascot reminds us of him — of his heart, his art, and his deep love for UNLV.
Unfortunately, in recent years, Hey Reb! was removed amid public misunderstanding and misinformation — often based on an assumption that he bore Confederate ties. But the truth, as documented in the official 2015 diversity report commissioned by UNLV and led by Dr. Rainier Spencer, could not be clearer:
“The Hey Reb! mascot was designed expressly to be an 1800s Las Vegas pathfinder and to not have any Confederate connection whatsoever… His clothing is Western, not Confederate… The historical record shows this to be an erroneous claim.”
The report also emphasized that the Rebels identity — including the mascot — never represented racism or racial exclusion. In fact, Nevada Southern (UNLV’s predecessor) was racially integrated from its early years and stood in contrast to the segregation that marked much of the South during the same period. As one African American UNLV alum put it in the report: “We were proud to be Rebels… there was never any racist undertone.”
So now, I ask you — not just as a son and an alum, but as someone who has watched a piece of our university’s authentic, homegrown identity be erased — to reconsider and restore the original Hey Reb! mascot. Bring back the symbol that was created not in hate, but in hope; not with exclusion, but with inspiration.
In doing so, you will not only honor the truth, the art, and the spirit of Mike Miller’s creation, but you will also honor the UNLV community — past, present, and future — who still see Hey Reb! as a source of pride, unity, and school spirit.
The time is right. The support is growing. And UNLV, once again, has the opportunity to be a bold leader in reclaiming its own history with clarity and courage.
With gratitude and Rebel pride,
Donald Stewart Miller
UNLV Class of 1984 & 1989
Son of Hey Reb! creator Mike Miller
