Frank B次元官网网址淪onnyB次元官网网址� Seiler, an attorney who owned the University of GeorgiaB次元官网网址檚 and served as lead defense counsel in a notorious case that was chronicled in the book B次元官网网址淢idnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,B次元官网网址� died Monday. He was 90.
The university announced that Seiler died in his hometown of Savannah, Georgia, after a short illness.
The B次元官网网址淯gaB次元官网网址� tradition began in 1956 when Seiler and his wife, Cecelia, brought their English bulldog to the season-opening football game at the request of then-coach Wally Butts.
Since then, Seiler and his family have raised a continual line of mascots for the Georgia football program, including the present B次元官网网址淯ga XI.B次元官网网址� The burly dogs have received widespread acclaim, including an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
B次元官网网址淢r. Seiler was a dear friend who I cherished and will miss very much,B次元官网网址� Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said in a statement. B次元官网网址淗e 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.B次元官网网址�
SeilerB次元官网网址檚 fame extended beyond the gridiron, most notably when he served as lead defense attorney for Savannah antiques dealer Jim Williams, who was tried four times in the 1981 slaying of his lover before he was finally acquitted.
The case served as the centerpiece of John BerendtB次元官网网址檚 1994 bestselling book B次元官网网址淢idnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,B次元官网网址� which introduced the world to a wide range of eclectic characters in GeorgiaB次元官网网址檚 historic coastal city. The book was later adapted into a 1997 movie directed by Clint Eastwood, in which Seiler portrayed the trial judge.
A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Seiler also appeared in the the 1998 film B次元官网网址淭he Gingerbread ManB次元官网网址� and 2000B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭he Legend of Bagger Vance.B次元官网网址� In addition, he co-authored the book B次元官网网址淒amn Good Dogs!B次元官网网址�
After receiving both his bachelorB次元官网网址檚 and law degree from the University of Georgia, Seiler joined the Savannah firm Bouhan Falligant in 1960 and became a senior partner. He also served on the Georgia Athletic AssociationB次元官网网址檚 board of directors and several other organizations associated with his alma mater.
B次元官网网址淪onnyB次元官网网址檚 contributions to the University of Georgia as a student and alumnus were innumerable, and his loyalty to his alma mater was unmatched,B次元官网网址� university President Jere Morehead said. B次元官网网址淗is legacy will live on forever in the history and traditions of this great institution.B次元官网网址�
Seiler is survived by four children, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Cecelia, his wife of 59 years, .
Paul Newberry, The Associated Press
