Palmetto High School Alum Restores Beloved Tiger Mural More Than 60 Years Later
PALMETTO – A treasured symbol of school pride has returned to Palmetto High School after more than six decades. On Monday evening, alumnus Raymond Klein, Jr., Class of 1959, unveiled a hand-painted recreation of the original Tiger mural he first painted on the old gym wall in the late 1950s.
The original mural, a fierce Tiger that became a rallying symbol for generations of students, was lost when the old gym was demolished around 1997. Klein, who now resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, decided it was time to revive the spirit of the Tigers on campus. With the help of friends who assisted with transportation, he made the trip back to Palmetto to deliver the new artwork to the school.
Klein was joined by several classmates — Bonny Limberg Whidden (’59), James Melvin (’59), David Tyler (’60), and Gail Jones (’60) — for the special moment. The group shared laughs and memories from their high school days, reconnecting over stories of their time as Tigers. Their class spirit remains strong; at their most recent reunion, classmate Jerry Purvis even designed placemats featuring the original mural’s image to honor Klein’s art.
After graduating from Palmetto High, Klein served in the Coast Guard Reserves, attended St. Petersburg Junior College, and earned a degree in advertising and public relations from Florida State University. He went on to build a successful career with Sears, Roebuck & Co., where he served as a district manager in Washington, D.C., and later became a small business owner and a volunteer for a ministry.
The new mural came to life thanks to Klein’s connection with Shari Stinton, Class of 1981, and Senior School Secretary at Palmetto High. To show his appreciation for Klein's work, Stinton presented him with a Tiger swag bag filled with school gear. Athletic Director Bryan Wilkes also greeted Klein and his classmates, thanking them for their lasting impact and support of the school’s traditions.
Klein said his goal was simple: to restore something meaningful to the Palmetto community. Though the new painting is not the original, it carries the same pride and purpose — a reminder of the Tiger spirit that continues to inspire new generations at Palmetto High School.
