Remembering Mr. Two Bits GEORGE EDMONDSON He Continued to “Stand up — MR
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We Inform. You Decide. www.alligator.org VOLUME 113 ISSUE 99 TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2019 Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida Remembering Mr. Two Bits GEORGE EDMONDSON He continued to “stand up — MR. TWO BITS — and holler” until his retirement DIED JULY 2 in 2008, in which the fi nal home game happened to be against The By Meleah Lyden Citadel. Staff Writer After he retired, Albert and Al- Florida Gators superfan George berta continued the tradition until Edmondson Jr. — known as Mr. 2013, when UF began inviting ce- Two Bits — died on July 2 at the lebrities, including Steve Spurrier, age of 97, said UF spokesperson Danny Wuerffel, Cris Collinsworth Steve Orlando. and other beloved Gators to do the The history of Edmondson’s cheer. fandom goes back all the way to Edmondson’s impact stretched a 1949 game at Florida Field. The beyond football. In fact, UF Foun- Gators were playing The Citadel, dations’s 2019 Giving Day had the a school he attended before enlist- theme “Stand Up and Holler” to ing in the Navy during World War honor the cheer. This day included II. T-shirts styled after Edmondson’s As the Gators came onto the outfi t and a campaign resulting fi eld, fans booed because of the in 11,535 gifts totaling over $12.6 team’s losing streak. So Edmond- million in a single day. son, whose loyalties held strong In addition, Edmondson and even though he himself did not at- his wife, Jane, provided awards to tend school at UF, jumped up and UF cheerleaders by founding the started the iconic cheer: “Two- Mr. Two Bits Scholarship Fund, Bits, Four-Bits, Six-bits, a dollar. Orlando said. All for the Gators, Stand Up and Edmondson’s legacy will not Holler!” only be remembered by his wife, This started the legend of Mr. children, grandchildren and great- Two Bits. And for 60 years, Ed- grandchildren but also by Gator mondson started every Gator fans all around the world. home football game with his A celebration of life will be famous cheer. He led the cheer held in Tampa in August. Details will be announced at a later date. wearing his signature yel- Alligator File Photo low shirt and orange-and-blue George Edmondson Jr., also known as Mr. Two Bits, leads The Swamp in his signature cheer striped tie, showing his love and @MeleahLyden spirit for the team. before the Gators’ 2008 home opener against Hawaii on Aug. 30. The UF superfan and World [email protected] War II Navy veteran, who first led the cheer in 1949, died on Thursday at the age of 97. UF responds to calls for investigation of death Doctors and researchers unite at THE UNIVERSITY WILL A celebration of life memorial circumstances surrounding HOLD A CELEBRATION service for Chen is scheduled his death, including hiring UF’s new neurological institute OF LIFE FOR CHEN for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the an independent investigator UF Baughman Center. with experience in working A $40 MILLION DONATION Lewy body dementia and amyotrophic lat- THIS WEDNESDAY UF released the statement with students in higher edu- eral sclerosis (ALS). By Tori Whidden after UF Graduate Assistants cation. HELPED KICKSTART Lisa Warren, Fixel’s rehab site manager, United (GAU) requested an The university also sent Staff Writer THE INSTITUTE said Fixel is nothing like the other academic investigation following the out an email addressed to health institutions she’s worked at during UF has responded to the circumstances that led up to graduate students regarding her 31 years as an occupational therapist. recent death of a graduate Chen’s death. the news on behalf of Presi- By Kasamba Kokayi Contributing Writer student amid calls for an in- In the statement, the uni- dent Kent Fuchs. The Alliga- She said Fixel is the perfect one-stop shop vestigation. versity said Chen left behind tor obtained a copy from UF for patients who would otherwise typically The university issued a a note suggesting possible spokesperson Steve Orlando. UF’s new neurological center now brings go to one doctor only to be told they need to statement regarding the death research misconduct by his In the email, Fuchs ad- medical doctors and clinical researchers to- seek a different one. of Huixiang Chen, an interna- faculty adviser, Tao Li. dresses the diffi culties of be- gether like never before. “Fixel offers it all under one roof,” said tional doctoral candidate in The university is issuing ing a graduate student. He The Norman Fixel Institute for Neurolog- Warren, who will be supervising the insti- the Department of Electrical an investigation through the also suggests resources avail- ical Diseases, which opened July 1, brings tute’s physical, sight, speech and occupa- and Computer Engineering, Offi ce of Research in addi- able through the university medical professionals and researchers of dif- tional therapy programs. “It all works out in who was found dead on cam- tion to the University Police’s to receive mental health care ferent neurological focuses under the same the patient’s favor.” pus in Benton Hall after tak- investigation, the statement including the Counseling and roof to treat patients for conditions such as Warren said the Center for Movement ing his own life on June 13. said. UF is also examining the Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, SEE CHEN, PAGE 3 SEE FIXEL, PAGE 3 Man fi nds shark tooth from foot years after bite GATORS AT THE WORLD CUP RECAP Jeff Weakley, 46, used the help of the Florida Museum of Natu- FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES See how current and former Florida Gators per- ral History to identify the blacktip shark tooth, pg 4 formed in France, pg 10 Tijuana Flats relocating to Butler Plaza The mexican-themed restaurant’s Archer Road location is in the @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator the process of moving to a new spot at Butler Plaza North, pg 6 2 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2019 Today’s Weather VOLUME 113 ISSUE 99 ISSN 0889-2423 Not offi cially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida NEWSROOM 352-376-4458 • Fax: 352-376-4467 Editor Mark Stine, [email protected] Engagement Managing Editor Lindsey Breneman, AM PM [email protected] NOON Digital Managing Editor Hannah Beatty, [email protected] Have an event planned? Opinions Editor Jackie De Freitas, [email protected] HIGH LOW Josephine Fuller, 90° 75° Add it to the alligator’s Metro Editor [email protected] online calendar: University Editor Kelly Hayes, [email protected] Local Events / News in Brief alligator.org/calendar Features Editor Jessica Curbelo, [email protected] Sports Editor Sam Campisano, [email protected] action skits from local artists. Assistant Sports Editor River Wells, [email protected] Audience participation is encour- Steph Strickland, aged and there will be drinking Social Media Strategist [email protected] games for attendees. Wednesday Editorial Board Mark Stine, Lindsey Breneman, night is sold out but you can still Hannah Beatty, Jackie De Freitas purchase Tuesday tickets at tick- Multimedia Editor Christopher Day, [email protected] etfly.com. Tickets are $7 for the the Avenue Editor Tranelle Maner, [email protected] standing area near the bar or Kaylyn Ling, [email protected] $12 for seating close to the stage. Copy Desk Chief You must be 18 or older to enter. Copy Editors Noura Al-Rajhi, Meagan DiPolo, There is an additional $3 charge Morgan Goldwich, Katherine Moore at the door for those younger Photographers Sam Thomas than 21. Doors open at 8 p.m. and Chris King the show lasts from 9 to 11 p.m. ‘Those Magnificent Men in Rainforest” and “Discovery DISPLAY ADVERTISING Their Flying Machines’ Zone,” will be open to the public Phoenix Rising at The Wooly 352-376-4482 • Fax: 352-376-4556 The Florida Museum is hosting a for extended hours until 10 p.m. Listen to triumphant stories on screening of “Those Magnificent For more information, visit www. Thursday at The Wooly from 7 Advertising Office Manager Cheryl del Rosario, [email protected] Men in Their Flying Machines,” floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/ p.m. to 9 p.m. Guts and Glory Intern Coordinator Ellen Light, [email protected] released in 1965 and rated PG, creative-b-flying-machines or call GNV is hosting a storytelling Sales Representatives Alejandro D'Agostino, Marc Fiol, at the museum on Friday at 352-273-2061. event where speakers will share Cade Green, Tianrui (Kaiser) Liu 7 p.m. Visitors will have the times in their lives where they opportunity to discuss the film 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' overcame seemingly insurmount- Emily Perpich, Bismarie Plasencia with a panel of scientists, artists Tonight and Wednesday, the able obstacles and stories of re- CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING and special effects experts prior High Dive will take part in the covery in many different forms. 352-373-FIND Fax: 352-376-3015 to the movie and explore the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" Tickets are $10 for students • balance between science and presented by Glory Day Presents and $15 for general admission. Classified Advertising Manager Ellen Light, [email protected] art. The museum's permanent & Frankie and the Pretenders. You can purchase them on- exhibits, except the “Butterfly The show will consist of live line at brownpapertickets.com. BUSINESS 352-376-4446 • Fax: 352-376-4556 Comptroller Delia Kradolfer, The Board of Directors of Campus Communications, Inc., publisher of [email protected] Bookkeeper Cheryl del Rosario, [email protected] Administrative Assistant Ellen Light, [email protected] ADMINISTRATION 352-376-4446 • Fax: 352-376-4556 General Manager Shaun O'Connor, [email protected] and Administrative Assistant Lenora McGowan, [email protected] President Emeritus C.E.