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BluDoor Studios - Mike & ReJana Krause
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BluDoor Studios - Mike & ReJana Krause
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In Southlake, the Dragon doesn’t just breathe fire—it breathes life into a tradition of excellence.
School spirit runs deep at Carroll campuses, and there’s one symbol that unites students, alumni and fans alike: the iconic Carroll Dragon. But few know the fiery tale of how this legendary mascot came to be.
The story begins in the 1950s at the then-small Carroll Common School. In search of a team name for their co-ed softball squad, a young student named Tony Eubanks suggested something bold and fierce: “The Dragons.” The name stuck.
Decades later, as Carroll Independent School District was officially formed, the hunt for a signature Dragon logo began. The inspiration came from an unexpected source: the U.S. Navy’s VAQ-130 Electronic Attack Squadron, famously known as the "Zappers." Founded in 1959, the Zappers were an elite electronic warfare unit whose emblem featured a fire-breathing dragon—an image that captured both strength and agility.
In 1984, Carroll freshman Shawn Lynch was asked by a teacher to redesign the Zappers' logo to fit the school’s growing identity. The result? A fierce, modern dragon set against the outline of Texas. “The next year it was on the football helmets,” Lynch recalled. “I was pretty proud of it.”
Carroll Hall of Honor Inductee and Former Football Coach and Athletic Director Bob Ledbetter embraced the new symbol, and from that point on, the Dragon was a movement as well as a mascot.
By 1986, Lynch’s design graced the school yearbook cover. Today, more than 40 years later, that same dragon lives on, proudly displayed on everything from letterman jackets and sideline banners to coffee mugs, pillows, and smartphone cases.
Carroll isn’t alone in its portrayal of the mythical beast. Today, across Texas, the Dragon stands tall as a surprisingly popular school mascot—at least eight high schools and junior colleges sport the fiery symbol. From Nacogdoches High School’s “Golden Dragons” in East Texas to Dallas’ Seagoville High and Southwest High in San Antonio, the creature is a time-tested favorite. It’s also the mascot of Dawson High in rural Welch, Texas, as well as Paducah High in the Panhandle and Bangs High in West Texas. This statewide fascination with Dragons makes Carroll ISD’s own Southlake Dragon not just homegrown history, but part of a broader, roaring Texan legacy.
The high school and senior high school are not the only guardians of the Dragon’s Den, either, with the mascot found all throughout the district at elementary and middle schools. In Carroll Middle School's main entry, an intricate Dragon mosaic is more than just artwork—it’s sacred turf. Eighth-graders pass down a “guard-the-dragon” tradition – stepping on the mosaic is unthinkable. And every fall, new kindergartners join Club Charlie, welcoming them into Dragon Nation with yard signs and a chance to meet Charlie himself—the friendly dragon mascot named in honor of legendary coach Charlie Stalcup.
Today, the Dragon logo is officially trademarked by Carroll ISD, making it one of the most recognizable and protected high school brand identities in the nation. It’s a hot-ticket design that adorns everything from bumper stickers to YETI coolers to designer-level spiritwear. It’s worn with just as much pride by debate champions, choir members and robotics teams as it is by state-champion athletes.
To wear the Carroll Dragon logo is to carry more than just school spirit—it’s to embody a legacy of excellence, pride and unbreakable unity. It means standing on the shoulders of champions, honoring decades of tradition, and fueling the fire that drives future generations. Whether you're a kindergartner in Club Charlie or a senior under Friday night lights, being a Dragon is a badge of belonging.