Frank 'Sonny' Seiler, patriarch of Georgia's Uga mascots, dies

Frank ‘Sonny’ Seiler, who first brought the first Uga mascot to Sanford Stadium and has continued to own the mascots in the decades since, died Monday. He was 90.

The Seiler family has owned all the Uga mascots, including Uga XI who was introduced earlier this year in April. The tradition started when Seiler and his wife, Cecelia, brought their English bulldog in a little red sweater to the 1956 Georgia season opener.

That bulldog, Uga I, was a wedding gift.

“I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Seiler family on behalf of the entire Bulldog Nation,” s Georgia president Jere W. Morehead said in a statement. “Sonny’s contributions to the University of Georgia as a student and alumnus were innumerable, and his loyalty to his alma mater was unmatched. His legacy will live on forever in the history and traditions of this great institution.”

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler, the patriarch of the long line of Georgia Bulldog mascots known as “Uga.”

Our thoughts go out to the Seiler family during this time.
#DGD pic.twitter.com/frgsHPuSai

— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) August 29, 2023

Seiler earned both his bachelor’s and law degree from Georgia, where he was a member of the swim team and the Sphinx Society. He graduated from undergrad in 1956 and immediately went to law school.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sonny Seiler,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said in a statement. “Mr. Seiler was a dear friend who I cherished and will miss very much. 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. Please join me in lifting the Seiler family up in prayer during this difficult time.” 

In addition to Seiler’s Georgia fandom, he lived a full life. He was an attorney for decades in Savannah, Ga. His most famous case was when he served as lead defense counsel for Jim Williams, who was on trail for the murder of Danny Hansford. The case was later chronicled in the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was later adapted into a movie.

Clint Eastwood directed the movie, also called Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Jack Thompson played Seiler in the movie while Seiler played Judge Samuel L. White. Uga V played Uga IV.

Seiler appeared in two other movies. He also co-wrote a book, Damn Good Dogs!, and served in the Army.