The first logo

6/25/12 12:00 AM

The Patriots had work to do. They had been accepted to the American Football League as the eighth and final franchise and had a nickname, but no logo.

So Walter Pingree had an idea. How about a Patriots hat ... the tri-corner hat worn by Patriots soldiers during the American Revolution. He sketched out his idea on paper -- a football helmet adorned with a tri-corner hat. He sent his drawing along with a letter to Patriots owner and founder Bill Sullivan.

Sullivan liked the sketch and wrote back to Pingree on Metropolitan Oil letterhead drawing as the team's newest logo.

Of course, the Patriots did not keep the tri-corner hat on their helmets for long. In fact, before the first season even began, they adopted Phil Bissell's Pat Patriot drawing as the new logo, but kept the tri-corner hat on the helmet for the 1960 season. In 1961, it was changed to Pat Patriot.

It is virtually impossible to find an authentic game-worn 1960 helmet today with the original logo since teh decals on the helmets were merely removed and replaced for the 1961 season.

The Pingree drawing, letter and return letter from Sullivan are on display in the Building Blocks exhibit within The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon.