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How JU Became "The Dolphins" I Nellie Elder Statesman Among College Mascots I Nellie's 55th Birthday Celebration (2008)
Nellie the dolphin: 1953-2014
Nellie the dolphin, the beloved Jacksonville University
mascot, former TV star and water-show performer who charmed
generations of young and old alike while raising awareness of
marine life, has died.
At 61 the oldest dolphin in human care, she had resided at
Marineland Dolphin Adventure her entire life.
“Nellie brought such joy to so many, and was an
inspiration to generations with her spirit and longevity,”
said JU President Tim Cost. “We are honored to have had her
as our mascot, and share our condolences with her caregivers at
Marineland and with all those who shared such a special bond with
her.”
Marineland announced the loss on its Facebook
page.
“Her memory will live on in the lives she
touched,” the Facebook post read. “She fostered a love
of the ocean and promoted marine conservation to thousands
throughout her lifetime. We will miss her dearly.”
Nellie received an honorary doctorate degree in health
sciences and longevity during her 60th birthday celebration in 2013
at Marineland (see a video at http://ow.ly/wohGj). The certificate
was Nellie’s third: She was proclaimed an honorary JU Dolphin
when she was adopted as the University’s mascot in 1970, and
received an honorary masters in marine science degree in
2008.
JU Marine Science Research Institute Executive Director
Quinton White said Nellie was an important part of the JU Marine
Science program.
“I can remember how proud students were when we
visited Marineland on field trips and they discovered we had a
real, live Dolphin as a mascot,” he said. “Classes
enjoyed learning about Dolphin behavior by observing Nellie for
many years. It was sad watching her decline over the last few
years. But her longevity was a tribute to her caregivers at
Marineland.”
Born Feb. 27, 1953, she was famous for her showmanship to
live audiences and in films, and for an iconic 1961 “it takes
a licking and keeps on ticking” Timex watch commercial with
broadcaster John Cameron Swayze.
Nellie was also the oldest living college mascot in the
country and a longtime featured performer who jumped through hoops
and playfully interacted with trainers and spectators at
Marineland’s dolphin shows. The sextenarian was long-retired
and had showed signs of aging, including blindness and limited
agility, as she continued to be studied and marveled at by marine
researchers.
Marineland said in a statement that its veterinary, animal
care and training staff “attended to Nellie throughout the
day yesterday [Wednesday] as her physical condition
deteriorated.”
“Due to her rapidly declining health and inability to
support herself any longer, the attending veterinarian administered
a calming sedative to ease her discomfort,” the statement
read. “When it became apparent she would not recover, the
difficult decision was made to euthanize. As she peacefully slipped
away, she was surrounded by her human family of caregivers who had
tended to her so lovingly over the years.”
David Kimmel, president and chief operating officer of the
Georgia Aquarium, said during Nellie’s 2013 birthday
celebration that she helped establish the standard for creating
awareness and understanding of marine mammals.
“It all started here. We all have learned a lot from
Nellie, who has made a lot of contributions to all of us about what
we know about dolphins,” he said. “Every single day we
learn something new.”
In addition to Nellie’s contributions to marine
research and serving as JU’s mascot, she had a positive,
lasting impact on children who attend JU’s Wilma’s
Little People’s School, who sent her birthday wishes every
year. Wilma’s founder, Kay Johnson, was on hand for her 60th
birthday celebration – and for Wilma’s adoption
ceremony in 1970.
A public celebration of Nellie’s life is tentatively
scheduled for Thursday, May 15. More information will be available
on Marineland’s
website as additional details become available. To
share condolences and memories of Nellie, guests can post on the
Marineland Dolphin Adventure Facebook
page and on Twitter by using
the hashtag #Nellie. A tribute video can also be viewed on the
Marineland Dolphin
Adventure and Georgia Aquarium blog