JILL MARICICH/Arizona Daily Wildcat Chuck Brugler, the Wilbur of 1974, donated his costume to the Jim Click Hall of Champions on Friday.

Some people are born Wildcat fans.

Some grow up to be Wildcats.

But only a special few become Wilbur the Wildcat.

Chuck Brugler, the 1974 football season's Wilbur, retired the last Wilbur costume to not have fur, fangs or holsters to the Jim Click Hall of Champions in the Eddie Lynch Pavilion on Friday afternoon.

"It's time for Wilbur to go home," Brugler said.

For more than 28 years, the mustard yellow smiling Wilbur head that he wore was displayed on his mantle at home.

"I love what Arizona did for me. It's time for me to give back," Brugler said.

Brugler, 54, was the first non-traditional (not affiliated with a campus club or organization) Wilbur. He went directly to Corky Taylor, dean of students at that time, to suggest that all students be given the chance to be Wilbur. Taylor agreed and Brugler won the rights to the claws.

"I only won because I could do a lot of push-ups," Brugler said.

Brugler was also one of few mascots that spoke sign language at games.

"I took my paws off to sign. One girl asked me my name and I signed ĪBill,' but she said, ĪNo, you(Īre) Chuck.' She knew who I was by my hands," he said.

But no one else did.

Most mascots don't reveal their identity until after their senior year, but Brugler kept the secret of his identity so long that some of his friends didn't know he was the famed mascot until he marched in the 1997 Homecoming parade with other former Wilburs and Wilmas.

"I used to always go to UA games. When I was Wilbur, my friends didn't understand why I didn't go. I told them I had another job," Brugler said.

The UA still plays a large role in Brugler's everyday life, and it has since he moved here as a child suffering from rheumatic fever.

"I love Arizona. If I hadn't come here, I wouldn't be here today," he said. "I've been a U of A fan ever since."

Brugler has been following UA football since the days when it cost 25 cents to get into a game.

He still carries with him a chin-strap he received from former UA quarterback Eddie Wilson in 1961.

As a special education teacher, he has brought many of his students to the campus to influence them to "keep learning."

He's also a regular at UA sporting events.

The day Brugler retired his Wilbur costume, he was wearing a shirt with the UA athletic logo and "Cheerleading and Mascot Alumni" written beneath it and a pair of Ice Cats sweat pants that he planned to wear to the game that evening.

"He has to part with something so memorable to him, but he's really excited to send Wilbur home," said athletics and special events spokeswoman Phoebe Chalk.

Brugler's Wilbur will be on display in the Hall of Champions once the displays are rotated.

Since Wilbur made his first appearance in 1959, 22 different students have played the mascot.

There have been numerous styles of Wilbur costumes. The current mascots are the most elaborate and expensive, costing about $5,000 each, Chalk said.

In 1986, costume designers were supposed to be making another Wilbur costume, but created his female counterpart, instead.

In 1986, she and Wilbur went on their first blind date. Later that year, they were married at the Arizona-Arizona State football game, according to the department of intercollegiate athletics' mascot history.

"It takes the heart the size of the Grand Canyon to be Wilbur," Brugler said. "It's really special."