Gunther Gebel-Williams, Lion Tamer
Rags01
>>and do you have a URL? I don't see the story>>
Not an URL, but I found this on AOL:
Trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams Dies
.c The Associated Press
VENICE, Fla. (AP) - Gunther Gebel-Williams, the circus animal trainer who
delighted ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, during his three decades
with the Greatest Show on Earth, died of cancer Thursday at 66.
Gebel-Williams, who died at his home, never missed a performance during his
career with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
``Whether he was working with tigers, leopards, elephants, horses or a giraffe,
you immediately knew that he was special because his incredible rapport with
animals was unsurpassed,'' said Kenneth Feld, chairman of Feld Entertainment
and a friend.
In addition to working the center ring with the circus, the flashy performer
was featured in TV specials and advertisements.
Gebel-Williams performed with elephants, tigers, leopards, lions, panthers,
mountain lions, horses, goats, camels, zebras and a giraffe.
He performed in the giant steel cage for the last time in Grand Rapids, Mich.,
on Sept. 27, 1998, when he filled in for his son, Mark Oliver.
Gebel-Williams, born in Schweidnitz, Germany in 1934, was introduced to circus
life at 12 when his mother joined Circus Williams as a wardrobe assistant.
He learned how to work with animals from circus owner Harry Williams. He took
over management of the popular German circus upon Williams' death.
In 1968, Ringling Bros.' owner Irvin Feld acquired Circus Williams to get the
talented Gebel-Williams. Gebel-Williams became a quick hit with American
audiences.
Gebel-Williams underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor last July. Sigrid
Gebel-Williams said her husband realized something was wrong when he lost his
peripheral vision during a training session with two tigers. He felt dizzy and
weak and walked into one of them.
Gebel-Williams had been with Ringling Bros. since 1969 and was vice president
of animal welfare for the circus, overseeing about 400 animals.
AP-NY-07-19-01 1813EDT