Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- George Edmondson, known to Florida Gators fans as Mr. Two Bits, passed on Tuesday, July 2, at the age of 97.

A celebration of life will be held in Tampa in August, and all friends of the Gators are invited to attend. Details will be announced at a later date.

Edmondson is survived by his wife, Jane, as well as three children, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
 
It all started in 1949 at Florida Field when Edmondson looked at the crowd around him as the Gators played The Citadel. Fans were booing the team, and Edmondson would not stand for it. He jumped up and got the fans cheering, and so began the legend of Mr. Two Bits.
 
For 60 years, Gator fans from all across the world became eternally grateful for the man who started every Gator home football game with the phrase "Two-bits, Four-bits, Six-bits, a dollar. All for the Gators, Stand up and holler!"
 
Edmondson led the cheer in his trademark yellow shirt with an orange and blue tie until retiring from the role at the end of the 2008 season. Coincidentally, Florida's home finale that season came against The Citadel, providing a unique symmetry to Edmondson's decades of leading Florida fans in the Mr. Two Bits cheer.
 
 

Following Edmondson's retirement, Florida mascots Albert and Alberta continued the pregame Two Bits tradition until 2013 when UF began inviting celebrities to perform the role. Errict Rhett was the first honorary Mr. Two Bits, and the Gator greats to fill that role over the past several years includes Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Cris Collinsworth, Lito Sheppard, Caeleb Dressel, Dara Torres, the 2006 and 2007 national champion men's basketball teams and many other beloved Gators.
 
"There's no question, you always knew who he was," Wuerffel said in 2013 when the honorary Mr. Two Bits tradition was established. "Every now and then you'd hear a certain part of the stands erupt and you just assumed it was Mr. Two Bits. The thing that's hit me is just the whole life cycle from where this started to where it is.
 
"His story is a lesson of perseverance and faithfulness. This is someone who had an idea to lead some cheers -- was never commissioned or asked to do it. He did his small part, did it very faithfully for many years, and it grew and grew. And now, to be recognized by Florida and for it grow to the point where it's a staple cheer for different celebrity folks, I just think it's inspiring for all of us."
 
Edmondson's impact on the University of Florida extends beyond the football field, as the UF Foundation's 2019 Giving Day took on the theme of "Stand Up and Holler" in honor of the cheer and included t-shirts styled after Edmondson's traditional outfit. The campaign resulted in 11,535 gifts totaling over $12.6 million in a single day.

George and his wife Jane also founded the Mr. Two Bits scholarship fund to provide awards to UF cheerleaders.
 
Jane Edmondson, George's wife:
"The Gator Nation has always meant so much to us, and George and I have loved being a part of it. We were both made honorary alumni of the university, and it has always been so special for us to be involved."

Dr. W. Kent Fuchs, UF President:
"George Edmondson truly brought joy and excitement to generations of Gators. To this day, no football game at the University of Florida is complete without his familiar cheer ringing throughout the stadium. The way he lived his life is a testament to the power of loyalty, dedication, teamwork and not giving up when the chips are down, and that is a wonderful legacy."
 
Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin:
"George's passion and love for the Gators produced one of college football's enduring traditions. The fact that Mr. Two Bits continues to this day speaks to the magnitude of his legacy at Florida. His loyalty and long-standing commitment to the Gators is a fantastic example of the passion that makes college athletics so great."
 
Florida AD/Emeritus Jeremy Foley:
"For generations of Florida football fans, doing the Two Bits cheer led by George was part of the fabric of their day cheering on the Gators. All of Gator Nation will remember George for his enthusiasm, dedication and love for Florida and how he willingly shared that love."