George Edmondson (a.k.a. "Mr. Two Bits") with his three grandsons (from left: Chris King and Kevin King, both of Atlanta, and Robert Edmondson of Tampa) before a UF game in 2007.
Edmondson Family Gets Fitting 'Two Bits" Honors
Tuesday, September 3, 2019 | Football, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — On Aug. 4, the family of George Edmondson held a celebration of life in Tampa honoring the memory of the man Florida Gators fans knew as "Mr. Two Bits," who passed away on July 2, just two weeks shy of his 97th birthday. Edmondson told his loved ones he wanted an upbeat farewell rather than a somber one. The family obliged.
If that one was cheery, somewhere up in the Orange & Blue heavens, Edmondson will love the salute he gets Saturday night.
Edmondson was 86 when he retired from doing his iconic "Two Bits" cheer at the end of the 2008 football season, but the University Athletic Association began a tradition in 2013 of inviting famous alums and students to take their turn at the pre-game routine. Fittingly, with No. 11 UF (1-0) set to play its 2019 home opener against Tennessee-Martin (1-0) this weekend, the first "Two Bits" cheer since Edmondson's passing will be led by his three grandchildren — Kevin King, Chris King and Robert Edmondson — along with his five great-grandchildren.
Yes, a lot of yellow Oxford shirts, sear-sucker pants and white saddle buck shoes will be bouncing around Spurrier/Florida Field.
"I haven't been to a game since 2012, so I've missed the 'Swamp,' and I'm sure it'll be bitter sweet without Granddad," said Robert, 31, and (believe it or not) the lone member of the Edmondson clan to graduate from UF, having completed work toward both a bachelor's degree in 2010 and masters in 2012. "But it's going to be really cool, too."
George and Jane Edmondson's five great-grandchildren (Clockwise from top left): Kenley, Fletcher, Kady, Slater and Kramer.
Kevin's sons Fletcher, Kramer and Slater, plus Chris's daughters, Kady and Kenley, will make up the group. A video tribute to their great-grandfather — and one of the greatest Gators ever — will precede the cheer.
Jane Edmondson, George's wife of 44 years, has told her grandsons they'd better be prepared. Countered Kevin, 47, "I told her, 'I've seen it a million times, so we got this."
For sure, Robert, Kevin and his older brother Chris should know the drill by now. From the time they were toddlers, their grandfather took them to Florida games, where they'd be at his side while he zipped from section to section to do his chant. George Edmondson never turned down a request for a photo or autograph — "He was like a rock star," Chris said — but he also moved so fast he couldn't always be flagged down. That was part of the plan. Had "Mr. Two Bits" stopped for every photo op, no one ever would have heard his cheer.
"He had an all-access pass to go anywhere in the stadium, too," Chris recalled. "We'd go through doors and get on service elevators to get where he needed to be."
Kevin's family, from Atlanta, would vacation at a Florida beach each summer and spend Christmas with his grandparents. He can recall very few times when his granddad was recognized on the street.
"I think he liked that," Kevin said. "On Saturdays, and it was time to put on his super hero costume."
The family will wear the familiar ensemble with pride Saturday, though Chris said the sear-sucker pants were a tough find on Amazon.com.
"But I got 'em," he added.
George Edmondson did his final on-field "Two Bits" cheer on Nov. 22, 2008, which was the Gators' home finale that season against, ironically, his alma mater of The Citadel. The honorary "Two Bits" role arrived five years later — ESPN earlier this summer listed the cheer at No. 8 on its list of Top 25 college football traditions — with Gator Greats such as Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Errict Rhett, Dara Torres, Cris Collinsworth, Alex Brown and Caeleb Dressel taking a turn.
This next one will come straight from Edmondson's heart; with his blood pumping through them all.
"He had a great life, almost a career, as a volunteer cheerleader," Chris King said. "From beginning to the end, I don't know if there was anyone ever like him in all of college football. He created his own brand just by being a fan. It's kind of amazing."
It is. And, by George, here's to one more amazing go at it for the Edmondson family.
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