The WHOA Mascot
Lady Godiva

A noblewoman in 11th-century England, Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. The couple was very generous and religious. Great benefactors of Coventry, they funded an abbey in the center of town and were actively involved in local affairs. Lady Godiva tried to foster an appreciation of the arts among local peasants and townsfolk. Consumed by the difficulty of earning a living and feeding and clothing their families, the citizens of Coventry were too busy to be bothered with aesthetic pursuits. So Lady Godiva pressured her husband to lower taxes to ease their financial burdens.

Leofric agreed, but with one condition -- to prove her dedication to the arts, Lady Godiva had to ride naked through the marketplace. Leofric argued that the ancient Greeks and Romans thought the human body was symbolic of the perfection of nature and God’s work, and urged Lady Godiva to put her money where her mouth was, so to speak. His plan to discourage her backfired -- she agreed to his terms and made her infamous ride. True to his word, her husband removed all local taxes (with the exception of the tax on horses).

Why LG? She demonstrates strength, courage and passion and reminds us never to underestimate women with a passion!