Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler

Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler was an American attorney and the longtime owner and caretaker of the line of English Bulldogs serving as the live mascot for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. His stewardship of the Uga mascots transformed a family pet into a nationally recognized symbol of Southeastern Conference athletics and University of Georgia tradition. A prominent trial lawyer in Savannah, Georgia, his legal career and his role as the keeper of the mascots were deeply intertwined with his identity and legacy.

Early life and education

Frank William Seiler was born in Savannah, Georgia, and developed an early passion for athletics and the University of Georgia. He attended Savannah High School before enrolling at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. At UGA, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He remained in Athens to attend the University of Georgia School of Law, where he served as president of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree.

Legal career

Admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, Seiler established a highly successful and respected trial practice in his hometown of Savannah. He became a founding partner of the firm Bouhan, Williams & Levy, which later became Bouhan Falligant LLP. Specializing in civil litigation, he tried cases across Georgia and was known for his formidable courtroom presence and meticulous preparation. His reputation led to his induction as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the legal profession's highest honors. He was also a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

University of Georgia Bulldogs and Uga

In 1956, Seiler and his wife, Cecelia Gunn, received a white English Bulldog named Uga I as a wedding gift. The dog was brought to a football game that fall, where then-head coach Wally Butts and athletic director Wallace B. Davis declared him the official mascot. Thus began the continuous, purebred line of Uga mascots, each descended from the original and owned by the Seiler family. Notable successors included Uga V, who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and Uga X, known as "Que." The mascots reside with the family in Savannah and travel to all home and away games, becoming iconic figures at Sanford Stadium and throughout the Southeastern Conference.

Cultural impact and legacy

Seiler's care elevated the Uga mascots beyond sports into the realm of popular culture, featuring in films like *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* and receiving widespread national media coverage. The lineage is meticulously documented, with each Uga interred in a dedicated mausoleum at Sanford Stadium's southwest corner. This stewardship created one of the most recognizable and cherished traditions in college football, symbolizing the spirit and continuity of the University of Georgia. His dual legacy is permanently etched in both Georgia legal history and the cultural fabric of American football.

Personal life

Seiler married his college sweetheart, Cecelia Gunn, in 1954, and they remained married until her death in July 2023. The couple had four children: Swann, Cecelia "Boo", Sara, and Charles, who have all been involved in the care of the Uga line. A lifelong resident of Savannah, Georgia, Seiler was a devoted member of the community. He died at his home in Savannah on August 28, 2023, at age 90, just weeks after the death of his wife.

Category:American lawyers Category:University of Georgia alumni Category:People from Savannah, Georgia