Armadillo Origin Trivia Q

[jaxon41]

After the Fall of Hairy Ranger (meaning, after we ran that photo of luscious
Karen Gordon in a see-through blouse), a New Crew was installed to run the
Ranger.  How long UT continued to foot the bill for it I can't recall, but
during this wind-down period some fellow did cutesy little Armadillo
cartoons in the Ranger (or wuz it the Daily Texan?).  Whitehead?  Was that
his name?  If so, was he the same ____ Whitehead of the husband/wife team
that went on to some local renoun as designers?

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this before Franklin hit town and
raised the armadillo to Cult Icon status?  Not trying to detract from Jim's
Legacy in the slightest here.  Merely interested in pinpointing in Time when
artists started depicting th' Little Nine-Banded, Armor-Plated Guy as a
symbol for our way of life.  Answers, anyone?  jaxon