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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM News WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008
MARRIAGE
Campus icon finds love on campus with student
BY BRYAN CISLER
bcisler@kansan.com
Sorry ladies, but one of Lawrence's most famous bachelors will soon be off the market. Jimmy Neal — otherwise known as "White Owl" — will be getting married to Julia Lee, 22-year-old Lawrence junior, at the end of the summer.
The two have only known each other a little more than a month but White Owl feels they were destined
The 61-year-old White Owl, who said another of his nicknames was Saul Tucker, said he came to Lawrence a year ago to do a research project on Agent Orange but soon became one of the faces of the University as his dancing and yelling at KU games got the attention of fans and television cameras alike. It wasn't until recently though that White Owl said that he fell in love.
White Owl's prayers were answered. The next day, White Owl was a guest speaker in Julia's American
to be together. He first noticed Julia at the end of last semester when she was standing around Wescoe Beach. White Owl said he sensed she was missing something in her life.
"After a little while I began to think,'I want to be with this guy in heaven.'That is when we began to talk about marriage."
"I saw an injured spirit and I am all about helping people
Mindv Ricketts/KANSAN
JULIA LEE Lawrence junior
and being a light," White Owl said. "I prayed that night that she would be sent to me somehow."
Studies class. White Owl talked to the class about believing in themselves and loving one another. After class, Julia told White Owl how much his message meant to her.
Jimmy Neal, more frequently known as "White Owl," and Julia Lee, Lawrence junior, have announced their engagement. They plan to wed in late July or August.
"You are the first person to tell me that."
White Owl remembered saying.
The two became inseparable after that, starting off as friends but
began spending more and more time together.
"After a little while I began to think, 'I want to be with this guy in heaven! That is when we began to talk about marriage,' Julia said.
Shortly after their conversation, White Owl proposed to her in front of his apartment. While some people have been happy for the couple, others have had concerns. Julia said
a few of her friends didn't understand how she could get married so fast to a man who is almost 40 years older than her, and Julia was still trying to
"I think this marriage will be good for him," White Owl's son Ian said. "He needs that in his life."
White Owl said he thought his relationship with Julia will last unlike his previous marriages.
"Her love for me is real," White Owl said, "In previous marriages I would see the reflection of my love, not their love."
For White Owl, this will be the third time the Vietnam veteran has been married. His first marriage lasted nine years and his second lasted 14 years. White Owl had a son with each wife.
See more photos of White Owl and his bride-to-be online at Kansan.com
"People who have seen our relationship develop have been really supportive," Julia said. "If age were an issue we would be missing the boat."
find a way to break the news to her dad. Still, Julia said people need ed to watch her and White Owl together before they make a judgment.
White Owl said the couple didn't
plan to be sexually active until after they were married.
"If I were to give in to my body, I would not be honoring her or God," White Owl said.
They plan to get married before the summer is over at Loose Park in Kansas City, Mo. The couple said everybody is invited to the wedding.
White Owl said even though he was settling down he still expected to go to the football and basketball games next season. He even plans to form a band with Julia and perform at the Wakarusa Festival next year.
"I have been without a woman for ten years, waiting for what God will bring me," White Owl said.
Edited by Matt Hirschfeld