Sonny Seiler, the patriarch of the Uga line of Georgia Bulldogs mascots, died Monday at 90 years old.
Seiler and his wife, Cecelia, began the Uga tradition in 1956 when they brought their English Bulldog to Georgia’s season opener at the request of then-coach Wally Butts. Sonny Seiler and his family went on to raise the continual line of Ugas, beginning with Uga I in 1956 and through Uga XI, who was “collared” at this year’s spring game.
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Seiler’s day job was as an attorney in his native Savannah, Ga., where he died Monday after a short illness, per the school. Charles Seiler, who has been Uga’s handler for the past few decades, will be on the sideline with Uga XI (Boom) for Georgia’s season opener on Saturday. Funeral arrangements for Sonny Seiler are incomplete at this time, the school said.
As recently as last year, Seiler was a presence at Georgia games and other events. He was known for his gregarious personality and approachability. Perhaps the most famous story about Seiler involved his 1990s encounter with Clint Eastwood, who was filming the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and giving Uga V a cameo. Before filming Eastwood told Uga: “I’m going to make you a celebrity,” to which Seiler replied: “Uga already is a celebrity, Mr. Eastwood.”
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Georgia Legend, Sonny Seiler. The patriarch of our beloved “UGA” will forever live in Georgia history.
Our thoughts go out to the Seiler family and all of those who were impacted by the life of Mr. Sonny Seiler. pic.twitter.com/bCOcS1aENV
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) August 29, 2023
The passing of the Georgia guard
This is the third passing of a Georgia legend in less than a year. Vince Dooley died in October on the eve of the Georgia-Florida game, 10 days after Charley Trippi, one of the greatest players in Georgia history, died at the age of 100.
“Sonny’s contributions to the University of Georgia as a student and alumnus were innumerable, and his loyalty to his alma mater was unmatched,” Georgia president Jere Morehead said in a statement Monday. “His legacy will live on forever in the history and traditions of this great institution.”
“Mr. Seiler was a dear friend who I cherished and will miss very much,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said in a statement. “He was an iconic figure at the University of Georgia for the past almost 70 years. Because of his generosity, Uga is the most beloved and recognizable mascot in all of college athletics. We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for building a legacy that will continue for years to come.”
(Photo: Jeff Schultz / The Athletic)
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