Keith Stokes, caretaker for Arkansas mascot Tusk VI, dies

Keith Stokes, the caretaker for Arkansas mascot Tusk VI, has died. Athletic director Hunter Yurachek announced the news via social media on Saturday.

The Stokes family cares for Tusk VI at the family farm, which is located near Darandelle.

“Once again, the University of Arkansas community and Razorback fans everywhere are grieving the loss of a treasured member of the Razorback Family,” Yurachek wrote. “Keith Stokes represented everything that is right about our state. Keith’s loving dedication and selfless service to our live mascot program paved the way for countless fans throughout Arkansas and beyond to connect with their state and their beloved Razorbacks. Our loving thoughts and prayers are with his wife Julie, son Chip and daughter Abbey and the entire Stokes family.”

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman also posted about Stokes’ passing.

“RIP Keith Stokes,” Pittman wrote. “What a kind man and we will miss him. Loved the Razorbacks and we loved him too! #tusk”

“Tusk” has been the live mascot for Arkansas since 1997 when Tusk I was selected. He served as the mascot for eight years until Tusk II took over from 2005-10. Tusk III was his brother and spent one season as the live mascot before Tusk IV — Tusk II’s son — took over from 2011 until his retirement in 2019.

Tusk V most recently served as Arkansas’ live mascot, taking over for his father Tusk IV in 2019. He passed away in January at Stokes’ farm, meaning Tusk VI is preparing for his first football season as the mascot.

Former Arkansas linebacker David Bazzel, who helped create the Broyles Award, also wrote some heartfelt thoughts about Stokes’ passing on social media.

“Keith was the most kind, caring, giving, hardworking husband, father, grandfather and the greatest live mascot handler college football has or will ever see,” Bazzel wrote, in part. “So grateful that God led me to Keith about 30 years ago when I asked Coach Broyles if I could restart the Razorback live mascot program… since that time no one has ever been more committed and passionate and given more time to the Razorback athletic program through TUSK than Keith.

“Thousands and thousands of hours spent with these wild Razorbacks for the past almost three decades all while he had other full time jobs. And thousands of hours talking to fans about TUSK, repeating the stories and info over and over again…didn’t matter, he loved talking about TUSK.”