Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 15

photo courtesy the Kansas City Chiefs
by Paul Newton | pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
S
itting in the back of the ambulance, Dan Meers was
still in shock. It was supposed to be a 20-foot bungee
jump into a zipline inside Arrowhead Stadium;
he fell 70 feet. There were seven broken ribs, a
shattered tailbone, a collapsed lung, a cracked sacrum, a
broken vertebrae and he was struggling to breathe.
" I was pretty clueless, " he says. " I started talking to the
medic in the ambulance and asked, 'Hey, you don't think
I'm going to have to spend the night in the hospital?' He
just laughed and said, 'I'd count on at least a few days.' "
For more than three decades, Dan has played to the
crowd as KC Wolf, the mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs.
He uses his 2013 stadium fall as motivation and inspiration
in his work as KC Wolf, which in addition to games
includes parades, weddings, festivals and personal speaking
engagements. He's also carried by his faith, which
has allowed him to raise money for and visit orphanages
across the globe.
Dan's mascot career began while attending the University
of Missouri. He saw an article for an informational
meeting and tryouts to be Truman the Tiger. Dan got
the job and spent the next four years portraying Truman
at Mizzou sporting events and around Columbia. After
graduating, he was hired by the St. Louis Cardinals to
play Fredbird in summer of 1990. That fall, he was contacted
by the Chiefs, who were introducing their new KC
Wolf mascot.
" I didn't have to think too long about it, " he says. " I
could go from 81 home games in the summer to 10 home
games in the fall and winter. "
Dan says being Truman, Fredbird and KC Wolf has
been rewarding personally and professionally.
" You're going and making people smile and laugh, " says
Dan, a 2020 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee. " You
reap what you sow in life and I've been given this unique
platform to bring joy to other people. Anytime I get the
chance to be a blessing to someone else, it brings joy to
my life too. "
His career took off as KC Wolf and his 86-inch hips and
size 22 tennis shoes became more popular in the greater
Kansas City area. He was asked to attend a growing number
of schools, festivals and corporate events. Everything
came to a screeching halt for Dan on Nov. 23, 2013.
" Earlier in the season we did a skit where KC Wolf
SEPTEMBER 2022 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 15

http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Rural Missouri - September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - September 2022

Contents
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - Contents
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 4
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 5
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 6
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 7
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 8
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 9
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 10
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 11
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 12
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 13
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 14
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 15
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 16
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 17
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 18
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 19
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 20
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 21
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 22
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 23
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 24
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 25
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 26
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 27
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 28
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 29
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 30
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 31
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 32
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 33
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 34
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 35
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 36
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 37
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 38
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 39
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 40
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 41
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 42
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 43
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 44
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 45
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 46
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 47
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 48
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 49
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 50
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 51
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 52
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 53
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 54
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - September 2022 - Cover4
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