Tyler residents theorize what happened to Shorty the Squirrel. Some speculate the city's furry mascot was electrocuted or hit by a car, while others believe he "woke up dead" one day. One thing is sure: the infamous rodent left an unforgettable impression on the city.
"As we redo the square starting in January 2025, we feel like we owe it to history and to the people who knew Shorty, who wanted to see if he's here and preserve his remains," Mayor Don Warren said. "When we do the new square, we'll have a statue of Shorty, and we'll bury the remains — or symbolically, we'll bury some dirt from this site below where the statue will be." Representatives of the City of Tyler, Smith County and Visit Tyler gathered Monday to exhume Shorty the Squirrel's remains from the downtown square at the corner of Erwin Street and Broadway Avenue, which will later be relocated.
The nearly 15-year-old squirrel, Shorty, was buried in August 1963. Shorty the Squirrel's original grave stone located the downtown Tyler square at the corner of Erwin Street and Broadway Avenue. (Contributed Photo/Robert Reed) When Shorty was buried, he was placed under a holly tree.
In the 1990s, when the square was redone before, a retaining wall was built to preserve the tree and the grave site. But over time, the tree died and was replaced, possibly disturbing the actual squirrel's remains. "We don't know if he was buried in a cigar box, a little squirrel coffin or just wrapped in a blanket," Warren said.
"But after all these years, is there anything left of Shorty?" City of Tyler Mayor Don Warren was surprised to find a plastic squirrel skeleton in the dirt beneath Shorty the Squirrel's gravestone, which had been planted by Smith County Judge Neal Franklin. (Katecey Harrell/ Tyler Morning Telegraph) Warren and Smith County Judge Neal Franklin used shovels to lift the gravestone before digging began. Warren was surprised to find a plastic squirrel skeleton beneath it, wearing a blue collar and still clutching an acorn — a memento Franklin had planted for Warren's office.
Shorty's reputation lives on. Known for his peckish nature, attorneys and bankers often stopped by to feed him. They'd stash pecans in their front pockets, and Shorty would perch on their shoulders, reaching down to grab the treats.
"If they didn't have any pecans, you know, the sound a squirrel makes?" Warren laughed. "Shorty would back up and chatter with anger that there were no pecans in the pocket." Main Street Director Amber Varona said Shorty comes up every single time during downtown revitalization conversations.
"We knew he had to be a vital part of the process," she said. The improvement project is expected to total $25.7 million over the next three years.
The plan includes revitalizing the square and making right-of-way improvements , ample green space and a wooded area with a Shorty statue and the relocation of his gravestone and organic material from the original site. One of the only known pictures of Shorty the Squirrel, and his red barrel house. (Contributed Photo) "We want him to be part of the new project," Varona said.
Varona spoke with the granddaughter of Shorty's handler, Troy W. Martin. She said Martin built a little red barrel house enclosure for Shorty.
Martin would take Shorty to his residence during storms to keep him safe. They tried to give Shorty a girlfriend named Betty, but he was very territorial about his square and his acorns, Varona said. So Betty didn't move to the square, but it's fun hearing the stories and how passionate people were about him, she said.
"Hearing the stories we've heard passed around shows how integral Shorty has become in our history," Varona said. "Having his story live on through downtown, going into the future, has been a big win for us, and we want to make sure we honor him." The statue will fully embrace Shorty's story, with plans for a plaque and a QR code at the visitor center at Visit Tyler, 110 N.
College Ave. A squirrel mascot is a regular at city events, and local T-shirt shops sell Shorty the Squirrel-themed merchandise. Shorty is a key part of the City of Tyler's brand.
Shorty the Squirrel hands out goodie bags during the drive-thru Valentine’s Day for families at the Glass Recreation Center in 2021. One of the ways Shorty's legacy lives on is through a mascot who can often be found at city events. (Tyler Morning Telegraph File) Warren shared Shorty's story with his granddaughter, who had never heard of him.
As they had breakfast the next morning, she told him, "I hope you find Shorty." He said it was touching to see even children in 2024 care about Shorty, showing the legacy is still alive. "We did due diligence for Shorty," Varona said.
"Something so small, literally, can bring a community together and pass down stories. I mean, he passed away in [1963] and yet here we are still embracing him.".
