Security guard shares skill with University

Fred Moore is a popular man on the UNC campus, but few know his last name.

“They don’t call me Mr. Moore or Fred,” he said. “They call me Mr. Fred.”

Moore has been a security guard for many of the University’s athletic facilities, but has gained a reputation as an amateur cartoonist.

“He has been around since I was an undergraduate,” said 2007 UNC graduate and Campus Recreation employee Tori Hooker. “He has always taken care of people around here.”

Moore’s cartoons often center on iconic UNC scenery, such as the Bell Tower or the Old Well.

His specialty, however, is ACC mascots partaking in comical and, usually, basketball-oriented action.

“My personal favorite is the yellow jacket stinging the Blue Devil in the butt,” Moore said.

The large-framed and big-smiling 62 year old said he has been drawing since grade school.

“I used to get in trouble for scribbling in school,” Moore said.

While in the Air Force, Moore’s matured artistic talents were discovered by a senior officer. He was then frequently asked to create to-scale battle sketches.

“People started asking, ‘Can you draw? Can you draw? Can you draw?’” Moore said.

Patrolling between Fetzer Field, the Student Recreation Center and both Fetzer and Woollen gyms, he is constantly greeted by friendly hollers and requests for a drawing.

“He makes a point to meet everyone — all the student employees that work for Campus Rec and a lot of the students involved with Campus Rec,” said intramural sports director Justin Ford.

An ever-growing waiting list currently has fifteen people anticipating a personalized “Mr. Fred” work.

“We choose what we want and he usually adds a little something of his own,” senior Natalie Malikyan said. “Usually a Blue Devil is being crushed somewhere.”

Certain motifs such as baby rams, a basketball-playing Rameses and giggling squirrels in Polk Place are prevalent throughout his works, and Moore’s content often crosses into the fantastical.

“People ask for all kinds of things,” he said.

Sophomore Kiva Moore said she is on the waiting list, hoping to receive a representation of “Princess Jasmine dunking on Rameses.”

There are few requests Moore will deny.

But when a UNC swimmer asked for Rameses to be portrayed drowning the Blue Devil, Moore had to say no.

“She was such a sweet girl, you wouldn’t have thought she’d ask for that,” Moore said. “I drew her something else.”

Moore has accumulated more than just a fan base at UNC — he has built friendships.

On his breaks, Moore is often spotted with students enjoying a shared crossword puzzle — another widely known skill of his, Ford said.

“Mr. Fred is one of the nicest people I know and is very loyal,” he said.

“If a student asks him to come to a game, he will make the effort to be there.”

Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.