UM’s mammoth Grizzly Bear statue located at the west end of the Oval was commissioned by former UM President Robert T. Pantzer who led UM from 1966 to 1973. The famous griz was created by former UM faculty and ceramics legend Rudy Autio.
UM’s griz arrived campus on Aug. 27, 1969 and the 3-ton bronze bear was set into place by a crane