West Virginia
Babydog is not West Virginia’s Li’l Sebastian. She’s ‘puppaganda.’ • West Virginia Watch
On West Virginia Day, Gov. Jim Justice held a dedication to the four new murals in the state Capitol rotunda.
The next day, we heard rumors that Babydog, Justice’s prized English bulldog, was in the murals. Sure enough, when I looked through the state Legislature’s photo gallery, there she was … right between a painter and a musician, with Seneca Rocks in the background.
We immediately began contacting state officials and the artists, with not much luck. The renderings released in April did not include Babydog in “The Shivaree of Seneca Rock.”
First, let me make it clear that I’m not blaming Babydog. Babydog is baby. She is innocent. She can’t help that she is chonky and people love her for it.
And yes, it is kind of funny and silly that she is in what’s supposed to be a historically accurate mural. (Sorry, it’s not actually “our” Babydog in the mural. It’s Babydog’s “20th grandma,” according to Randall Reid-Smith, secretary for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.)
But the problem is that protocols were not followed with the mural, which was funded by taxpayer money.
Reid-Smith, who would not return our calls for an interview, said on Metronews’ “Talkline” that he and other top members of the Justice administration, after reviewing the initial draft of the mural, felt it needed more content, and added a cardinal, elk and Babydog.
However, any changes made to the Capitol must be approved by the Capitol Building Commission. He said the mural with Babydog’s likeness was approved by himself, state Museums Director Charles Morris, Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Urling, Administration Secretary Mark Scott and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Rebecca Blaine. Reid-Smith is the only one on that list who is a member of the Capitol Building Commission.
Like many things in Justice’s administration, there’s been a lack of transparency with the process. The Gazette-Mail’s Phil Kabler sent a Freedom of Information Act request related to the state’s decision to enter into a contract with John Canning & Co. for the mural work, since the current Capitol Building Commission never approved the work. Kabler said the response he received was the April 3 news release announcing the murals.
Reid-Smith also tried to justify the decision by saying, “People will always remember Babydog, and so that is creating history.”
Yes. People will remember Babydog because Justice brings her everywhere — along with her own chair — and uses her to try to endear people to him.
People on social media have compared Babydog to Li’l Sebastian, a beloved 25-year-old mini horse from the sitcom, “Parks and Recreation.” The mini horse is the city of Pawnee’s mascot, and some describe Babydog as West Virginia’s mascot.
Everyone loves Lil’ Sebastian, who somehow has an honorary degree from Notre Dame. Even curmudgeon Ron Swanson squeals in delight when the tiny horse visits city hall.
Both Li’l Sebastian and Babydog have songs about them. Both have merch. Both make special appearances at events.
Except Li’l Sebastian’s owner isn’t a politician.
Li’l Sebastian’s owner never ran for U.S. Senate.
Li’l Sebastian never endorsed a political candidate.
Li’l Sebastian never lobbied around the state against personal income taxes.
Babydog is a distraction. Justice has had a lot of bad press, even going back to before he was elected governor. In February, when it was announced that Carter Bank & Trust listed several of Justice’s properties at the Greenbrier Sporting Club for auction, Justice announced soon after that Babydog would need surgeries for a torn ACL. A few days after Justice’s companies sued to block the auction, an official news release came out saying Babydog’s ACL surgery was successful.
On West Virginia Day, Justice was scheduled to unveil a statue of the state’s first governor, Arthur I. Boreman, in Wheeling. He showed up 40 minutes late and sat in his air conditioned car on the 92 degree day until it was his turn to speak.
Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, Justice’s opponent in the U.S. Senate race, posted on X that Justice “spoke at length about his own dog and said nothing about Governor Boreman.”
Justice apologized to the crowd for not bringing Babydog to the event, “It’s unseasonably warm, and Babydog absolutely can’t stand it when it’s unseasonably warm.”
Same, girl.
Now that things have been heating up with Child Protective Services and the Department of Human Services as reporters and legislators try to find out how a Boone County teen fell through the cracks, Babydog has popped up in a mural.
It’s OK to love Babydog. But remember she’s there to distract you. Pay no attention to the man behind the English bulldog.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history, compiled by the West Virginia Humanities Council from its online encyclopedia, e-WV.
April 19, 1896: Writer Melville Davisson Post was born in Harrison County. His best-known works are the Randolph Mason series, published in three volumes, and the more successful collection Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries.
April 19, 1902: Author Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon. She wrote a number of children’s books, including Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which won the 1956 Newbery Award.
April 20, 1823: Gen. Jesse Lee Reno was born in Wheeling. He graduated from West Point in 1846 with another cadet from western Virginia, Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Reno was the highest-ranking officer from present West Virginia killed in the Civil War.
April 20, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that in 60 days, West Virginia would become a state. The occasion was marked 100 years later during the state’s Centennial celebration with a special ceremonial session of the West Virginia Legislature on April 20, 1963, in Wheeling.
April 20, 1909: Fiddler Melvin Wine was born near Burnsville in Braxton County. A favorite of old-time music enthusiasts nationally, he was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest recognition given to a folk artist in the United States.
April 20, 1939: Poet Irene McKinney was born in Belington, Barbour County. Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed her state poet laureate in 1993, and she served in that capacity until her death in 2012.
April 21, 1908: Musician Phoeba Cottrell Parsons was born in Calhoun County. Parsons’ traditional clawhammer banjo style, unaccompanied ballad singing, riddles and storytelling have influenced countless younger musicians.
April 21, 1936: President Franklin Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Forest. The West Virginia portion of the forest includes about 19,000 acres in Monroe County.
April 22, 1908: Marshall “Little Sleepy” Glenn was born in Elkins. Glenn coached basketball at West Virginia University from 1934 to 1938 and football from 1937 to 1940. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
April 22, 1948: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as the longtime host and artistic director of the Mountain Stage radio program.
April 22, 2003: Activist Judy Bonds, a Raleigh County native, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight against mountaintop removal mining. Her efforts inspired thousands and turned a local West Virginia issue into a national cause.
April 23, 1857: Andrew S. Rowan was born in Gap Mills, Monroe County. Rowan, a military officer, was chosen as the messenger when President William McKinley wanted to send a message to Cuban Gen. Calixto Garcia during the Spanish-American War. The 1899 pamphlet A Message to Garcia made the incident famous.
April 24, 1865: McNeill’s Rangers surrendered to Union troops at New Creek — now Keyser. The Confederate guerrilla force probably never numbered more than 100 men at any time but managed to inflict regular damage on Union operations.
April 25, 1863: In what became known as the Jones-Imboden Raid, about 1,500 Confederate soldiers under Gen. William “Grumble” Jones advanced through Greenland Gap, a deep pass through New Creek Mountain in present Grant County. The Confederates encountered 87 Union soldiers who held off several assaults before finally surrendering.
April 25, 1923: Union leader Arnold Ray Miller was born at Leewood on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. In December 1972, he defeated Tony Boyle to become president of the United Mine Workers and served until 1979.
e-WV is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the council at 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301, call 304-346-8500 or visit wvencyclopedia.org.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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