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Mr. Two Bits

George E. Edmondson Jr. (July 17, 1922 – July 2, 2019) was an insurance salesman from Tampa, Florida who was known to the University of Florida community as "Mr. Two Bits". Edmondson was a fan of the Florida Gators football team, for which he led a traditional "Two Bits' cheer" at football games beginning in 1949. Though he began the practice in an unofficial capacity, it eventually became so popular among fans at Florida Field that he was invited to lead the cheer from midfield before games, which he did from the mid-1970s until 2008. Citing health concerns, he retired from the role after the 2008 season and died in 2019. Beginning in 2009, a series of University of Florida students and famous alumni have taken over the Mr. Two Bits role during pregame festivities at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which higher profile "Guest Mr. Two-Bits" usually tapped to lead the cheer before higher profile games. Edmondson's cheer and distinctive orange-and-blue-striped tie became so popular that they have been used by the university as a symbol of alumni support.

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Article summary

George E. Edmondson Jr. (July 17, 1922 – July 2, 2019) was an insurance salesman from Tampa, Florida who was known to the University of Florida community as "Mr. Two Bits". Edmondson was a fan of the Florida Gators football team, for which he led a traditional "Two Bits' cheer" at football games beginning in 1949. Though he began the practice in an unofficial capacity, it eventually became so popular among fans at Florida Field that he was invited to lead the cheer from midfield before games, which he did from the mid-1970s until 2008. Citing health concerns, he retired from the role after the 2008 season and died in 2019. Beginning in 2009, a series of University of Florida students and famous alumni have taken over the Mr. Two Bits role during pregame festivities at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which higher profile "Guest Mr. Two-Bits" usually tapped to lead the cheer before higher profile games. Edmondson's cheer and distinctive orange-and-blue-striped tie became so popular that they have been used by the university as a symbol of alumni support.

Key claims

  1. date of death: 2019 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of death: 2019-07-02 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of death is "2019". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of death is "2019-07-02". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1374253634

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.