On Monday, someone left a bouquet of flowers in the hollow of Stumpy's trunk ... there was a traffic-stopping homage to Stumpy. Behold, the mascot for this year's Credit Union Cherry Blossom ...

The Wufs chose halftime at a Raleigh basketball game with Wake Forest University so the Deacon mascot could preside. They chose a 4-year-old flower girl, Tricia Ann Cheeks, and a 5-year-old ring ...

This loveable mascot makes a splash at more than 450 public appearances each year. Throughout his career, Sharkie's attended birthday parties to flower deliveries, bar mitzvahs to weddings ...