State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) expressed pride in helping two Permian High School students bring recognition to the "MOJO" rallying cry on the occasion of the 56th anniversary it was first uttered. Landgraf said that before the 2023-2024 academic year began, two members of the Permian student senate, Molly Izaguirre and Jase Contreras, reached out to him about getting "MOJO" its own day from the state of Texas.
"Molly and Jase were determined to make this happen, so I said heck yeah," the lawmaker said in an Oct. 16 Facebook post.
Landgraf's post further explained that the student leaders sought for a proclamation to be issued on Oct. 13, which was the day in 1967 it was first heard at a Permian Panthers game. "Long story short, we were able to get it done," he said in the post.
The school invited the representative, whose Texas House of Representatives district covers Andrews, Ector, Ward, and Winkler counties, to a pep rally ahead of its Oct. 13 matchup against Midland Legacy where he presented the proclamation to principal Dr. Delesa Styles, per the post. "I also took the liberty of giving a pep talk to all the students at my alma mater," Landgraf wrote. "I'm proud of these student senators for their vision, persistence, and hard work in achieving a goal!"
According to Odessa CBS affiliate KOSA News, Landgraf's Panthers successfully pulled off a last-second two-point conversion to topple the Rebels 32-31.