The Mighty Mule

A new hand-crafted bronze Mule for the entrance of Harry B. Orem Stadium. Your name can be part of it.

2,006Stomps on the pedestal

$250Per Mule Stomp

$150KMinimum goal

Why a second Mule

Nearly 20 years ago, the Class of 2007 gave Alamo Heights a bronze Mule for the front of the school.

While the new Alamo Heights High School was being built from 2024–2026, that statue spent its time at Harry B. Orem Stadium. With the new school complete, it has gone home to its original spot. But the community got used to seeing a Mule at the stadium gate, and we want one there for good, to celebrate past championships of all AHHS athletic programs and to inspire future championship teams.

Alumni from the 2006 AAAA Division I State Championship football team worked with the Alamo Heights Superintendent, Board of Trustees, Alamo Heights School Foundation, and Alamo Heights Mule Team to get a new statue approved. It is meant to carry the same spirit of excellence from the classroom into every arena where our Mules compete.

This is a project for the whole community. It also starts a tradition that every graduate will be part of from now on.

How the statue will look

The design brings together the Mule everyone knows and the armored style of sculptor George Schroeder. Here is how it came together.

The classic Alamo Heights Mule illustration: a brown mule bucking forward with head down, wearing a blue and gold AH blanket.

The iconic position

The Mule that generations of Mules have grown up with: head down, front hooves tucked, driving forward off a single hind leg, AH blanket across its back.

The Battle Mule study

George's maquette explores the armor: hammered plates, wrapped legs, and ribbon-cut mane and tail. It set the material language, in a rearing pose.

AI rendering of the armored mule in the iconic bucking position, in bronze.

Bronze positioning with AI

George used AI to place the Battle Mule's armor onto the iconic pose, to preview how the two would read together in bronze before the sculpting begins.

Battle armorIconic positionThe Mighty Mule

The Mighty Mule concept in bronze. — Concept rendering. The finished bronze will be hand-crafted by George Schroeder and will differ in detail.

From the artist

George Schroeder, Schroeder Metal. AHHS Class of 1985

The “Mighty Mule” sculpture is a community celebration; the iconic Mule mascot represents the integrity and achievements of the athletics program at Alamo Heights High School. The sculpture will be located at the entrance of Harry B. Orem Stadium, for all to enjoy during athletic events.

This dynamic and original design will portray the brute strength and loyal characteristics of a Mule, built entirely from hand-crafted bronze to last generations. The artwork is conceptually based on the progression, power and enduring future of athletics at Alamo Heights, as the Mule is pushing forward into the future, symbolizing determination and perseverance.

The abstraction of the form will change throughout the sculpture. Some areas will be more raw and less polished, and as the viewer explores the artwork they will be taken on a journey into the future, reflected in the high-polished bronze areas towards the iconic head and frontal muscular area of the Mule, as the “Mighty Mule” pushes ahead.

The artist, George Schroeder, is a former football player and track and field athlete at Alamo Heights (Class of 1985). His unique perspective adds special character and a personal connection to the creation of this artwork for the Alamo Heights and greater San Antonio community.

A new tradition: the Mule Stomp

A Mule Stomp is a small, rectangular bronze plate engraved with a name and year, “stomped” into place for generations to see.

Think of the engraved bricks at the Alamo Heights Little League fields. Starting this year, every Alamo Heights High School graduate will be able to buy a Mule Stomp with their name and graduation year, set in a designated place on campus.

To kick it off, the whole community can buy one now. Families can inscribe their family name, and alumni can inscribe their name and graduation year. The first 2,006 Mule Stomps will be set into the pedestal of the new statue, in celebration and commemoration of the first Alamo Heights football AAAA Division I state championship, won on December 16, 2006 in the San Antonio Alamodome, defeating Copperas Cove 40–28.

[REAL-TIME NUMBER]of 2,006 pedestal stomps claimed

Each block stands for about 20 stomps. Fill shown is a placeholder.

Where the money goes

Every dollar above the cost of the statue supports Alamo Heights athletes, now and for years to come.

$50,000raised toward the $150,000 minimum goal (sample)

$150KMinimum

$250KStretch

$500KOutside

$150,000

Minimum goal

Funds the Mighty Mule, its pedestal, and the hard cost of the Mule Stomps.

$250,000

Stretch goal

The AHHS Varsity Men's football locker room will be named in honor of Bradley Samuel Dibrell.

$500,000

Outside goal

Builds lasting, year-after-year support for athletics and the district's future.

All funds beyond the cost of the statue, its pedestal, and the hard cost of the Mule Stomps will be donated to a combination of the Alamo Heights Mule Team and the Alamo Heights School Foundation. They will support athletic participation and excellence across every sports-related extracurricular program at Alamo Heights High School, and provide dedicated, permanent funding for the district's future.

Bradley Samuel Dibrell

Captain and star wide receiver, 2006 Conference AAAA Division I State Champion Mules

Sam entered into the fullness of Eternal Life on Monday, June 20, 2011. He will be remembered for his zest for life, contagious laughter, and big heart.

If we reach our $250,000 stretch goal, the AHHS Varsity Men's football locker room will carry his name, so every Mule who suits up will be inspired to play with the tenacity, perseverance, and enthusiasm that Sam brought to every play on the field.

Buy a Mule Stomp

Add as many Mule Stomps as you like, each with its own inscription, engraved by Monarch Trophy Studio in San Antonio. You can add a donation too, or make a donation on its own.

Your Mule Stomps

$250 each. Up to 3 lines per plate, 16 characters per line. Letters, numbers, spaces and . , ' & - only.

Add a donation

Optional with a Mule Stomp. You can also give a donation on its own.

Your contact details

All fields are required except class year.

First name

Last name

Phone

Your AHHS class year, if you are an alum (optional)