JONESBORO, Ark. — Respected and loved, the Indian Family has been the Arkansas State University mascot since 1931, but now is in its last day of representing ASU with a farewell ceremony planned for Thursday night. Posing as the Indian Chief during this final year and loving it, is Chad Shurley, a junior art major of Jonesboro.

The Indian Chief, complete with a light brown leather outfit with delicate, colorful beading and a dazzling white feather headdress decorated in red and white, has been a traditional sight at every Arkansas State University home football and basketball games along with the rest of the ASU Indian Family: the Indian Princess and Brave.

"Growing up in Jonesboro, I always loved going to the game and seeing the Indian family," Shurley said. "Being a little kid, I always thought (the Indian family was) really neat. It was like seeing Mickey Mouse at Disney World."

With only school and his fraternity keeping Shurley busy, he applied for the Indian Chief position at the end of the 2007 summer.

"When I first applied, I was actually nervous that we wouldn’t have the Indian family, but I applied anyway," Shurley said.

Applicants were required to have a 2.5 grade point average, be in good standing with the university and be a full-time student. Applicants were also required to turn in a picture of themselves and short essays on topics such as, "Why do you want to be the Indian Chief?" For Shurley, he said it was watching the Indian Chief at football games while growing up that made him want to apply and try out for the Indian Chief.

Shurley was accepted at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.

"I was really excited and called all my friends," he said.

"Well, first thing I did was call the Indian Princess, and then I called all my friends," Shurley said.

It was the start of what Shurley described as a great experience.

"It’s kinda fun. It’s exciting to be the last (Chief), but it’s sad to know they (Indian family) won’t be around next fall," Shurley said. "My performance is heightened because I know we’ll be watched more, and I want us to be honored."

With the Indian family nearing the end of their final year of representing ASU, Shurley said the attention they received at games because of this formed his best and worst memories of being the Indian Chief.

"Every game when I walk onto the field, it’s a big adrenaline rush," Shurley said, describing watching the clock for his cue to step onto the field surrounded by a cheering crowd.

He still remembers walking out at the last football game as Big Clay made his speech and participating in the 2007 Christmas Parade as the Grand Marshall.

"Grand Marshall was neat in seeing our fans outside the games and seeing how our community loves us," Shurley said. "It was neat and a real honor."

The trio portraying the family in its final year each received a plaque commemorating their role as the Indian Family. Shurley said they would be allowed to keep the plaques.

Shurley said he also enjoyed "getting to meet all the alumni and hearing all their stories about the Indian Family from throughout the years."

"Everybody misses the running of the horse around the track of the Indian Stadium," Shurley said.

It was one memory relived that he would not have minded reenacting.

"I think it would have been neat to have been able to ride a horse … but we were not able to do that," Shurley said.

Lauren Carpenter, Shurley’s best friend, described Shurley as hardworking, responsible and lots of fun.

"He takes (his role as Indian Chief) very seriously, and this is a difference I’ve noticed in him," she said.

Carpenter, a junior communications disorders major of Jonesboro, has been friends with Shurley since the fifth grade. She tries to attend as many games as she can for support.

As Chief, Shurley attends home games, pep rallies, Order of the Tribe and local events, such as the Kid’s Fun Fair. All of these events, Shurley said, have helped him gain more school spirit.

"I enjoyed going to all the games and being the imagery of ASU and all the public relations events we had to do," Shurley said. "I have met more people through the events and gained respect for what they do."

His role as Chief has also led him to take a more active part in his fraternity, Sigma Pi, and the Greek community as well. This year, he is a member of the Interfraternity Council and the member educator for Sigma Pi.

"I’ve also learned a lot more about Indian culture," Shurley said. "We had to learn how to build a teepee and about our costumes."

Shurley said the Indian family had to build its teepee before each football game, and while it wasn’t hard, it was fascinating to learn how the Native Americans built teepees, even if the advisor did most of the work.

Through the time spent together attending games and building teepees, Shurley said he has become close to the rest of the Indian family, especially Livvy Rurup, the Indian Princess.

"We’re pretty good friends now because we have to do so much stuff together," Shurley said. "We help each other get ready, she takes care of me."

While the Chief is set to retire tonight at the last home basketball game for both the men and women, the experience of being a part of the Indian Family is a memory that Shurley will not forget anytime soon.

"I would do it over and over," Shurley said. "I have loved every minute of this. I want the Indian pride to always be carried on and remembered."

Shurley said he liked the recommended mascot of the wolves.

"I feel it was the best selection of all the choices," Shurley said. "It will be very interesting how it works out and how the student body and alumni will accept it."

He said most of the fans he has met were not looking forward to the change.

"It’s going to be almost like going to a new school," Shurley said. "But that is not saying that I’m not still going to support."