University celebrity White Owl gets engaged

By Bryan Cisler

Monday, June 16, 2008

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 61-year-old White Owl 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. It wasn’t until recently, though, that White Owl said that he fell in love.

Photo Gallery

White Owl's engagement

A photo gallery of portraits taken of White Owl and his fiancee, Julia Lee.

The two have only known each other a little more than a month but White Owl said he felt they were destined 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.

“I saw an injured spirit and I am all about helping people and being a light,” White Owl said, “I prayed that night that she would be sent to me somehow.”

White Owl’s prayers were answered. The next day, White Owl was a guest speaker in Julia’s "American 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.

“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. Julia began to feel that their relationship had more potential.

“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. Julia is still trying to find a way to break the news to her dad. Still, Julia said people needed to watch her and White Owl together before passing judgment.

“People who have seen our relationship develop have been really supportive,” Julia said. “If age were an issue we would be missing the boat.”

For White Owl, this will be the third time the Vietnam veteran has been married. His first marriage lasted nine years and his second was for 14 years. White Owl had a son with each wife.

“ 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 would 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.”

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., and the couple said everybody was 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, “I haven’t felt this love as a person since my mother babied me.”

– Edited by Matt Hirschfeld

Comments

mapmaker (anonymous) says...

Hilarious!

June 17, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rpvoss (anonymous) says...

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

June 17, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Katiekatm13 (anonymous) says...

Congrats to them both I think. If they are happy then let them be.

June 17, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

phoenix (anonymous) says...

Please quit giving White Owl attention so he'll go away.

June 17, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

StlJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Wow this is disturbing. Thought I would have an enjoyable summer and stop hearing about this crazy hippie. I was so tired of all the bullsh*t that spewed out of his mouth and this girl must of lost "her spirit" and her mind. Stop reporting on this man who promotes drug use on campus. NOW!

June 18, 2008 at 1:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dlowell (anonymous) says...

You're just a hater. I used to be a White Owl reactionary, angered by his very presence. But now I've come to accept this dirty old man as another part of the landscape. It's not as if he's kidnapping her or anything, she agreed to it. Doesn't bug me any, and if they're happy, let 'em be, I say.

June 18, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

honey_badger (anonymous) says...

StlJayhawk,

Either you are new to Lawrence and the KU campus, or you are completely oblivious to this university's liberal tradition. Wake up. People are doing drugs all around you. Even on campus. Gasp!!!

The only reason white owl's marriage is "disturbing" to you is because your understanding of love, relationships, and sexuality is pathetically narrow.

KU offers a wide range of classes. Perhaps you'd like to join the rest of us in our pursuit of knowledge.

June 18, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lovenhaight (anonymous) says...

I don't want to even begin to think about White Owl "giving in to his body". That is so freaking disgusting. And why exactly is American Studies in quotations, UDK? Its a department at KU, not a kitschy course. Jackasses. All of them.

June 18, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lovenhaight (anonymous) says...

And how can someone be a "former Vietnam veteran"? Either you are or you aren't.

June 18, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lovenhaight (anonymous) says...

Oh, and before honey_badger pipes up and calls me narrow as was done to another poster, thinking that this man is an opportunistic burnout doesn't make me small minded. It means I'm observant. Standing out on Wescoe screaming and disrupting classes doesn't make him cool. He's only there to be a "university celebrity", and personally (although I know there are many others who agree with me) I don't want the school that I earned a degree from to be associated with this guy. Its embarrassing.

June 18, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

no_bs_redhd (anonymous) says...

Seriously people, why does this have to turn into a political argument? It's not about politics. It's not even about the age difference.

It's about two people making a -hasty- decision to get married.

Here's MY beef with this:
It's a bad idea for ANYONE to get married after only a few months of knowing each other! That goes for ANYONE- old, young, straight, gay, liberal, conservative, poor, rich, what have you. No one wants to be 22 and divorced. Getting married in only a few months of knowing each other is a hasty and unwise decision no matter who you are. Granted, sometimes those marriages work out-but the majority do not! I would have a little more faith in this union if they first waited a few years to see if they can even maintain a healthy relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend.

June 18, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

phoenix (anonymous) says...

Lovenhaight,
You should apply to edit for the Kansan if it gets you off to point out others' mistakes. By the way, your name is spelled wrong. It's Love and Hate.

June 18, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

40for60 (anonymous) says...

What could White Owl possibly wear to that wedding?

June 18, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jdbartel (anonymous) says...

phoenix - probably a reference to Haight Ashbury....genius.

June 19, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

pantheon (anonymous) says...

Why is this in the paper? Oh yeah, cause the summer paper is run by a pack of mindless twits. I still wish I hadn't read the "drunk dialing top 5" or could just brain-bleach it away.
My eyes. The goggles do nothing.

June 19, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lovenhaight (anonymous) says...

I graduated from KU, so no, I won't apply to edit the Kansan. It doesn't "get me off" to point out others' mistakes, but these are supposed to be journalists and there are blatant errors. Elementary errors. And thank you, jdbartel. You are correct about the reference to Haight Ashbury. :)

June 19, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

WhiteOwl (anonymous) says...

For all my young spirits out there, I share with you this.... K! K! U! U! (WhiteOwl funky Dance) Now I may be some 60 odd years old and I may be 10 in Cherokee years but my spirit and Julia's are as bright as the fire on a joint when you look at it when trippin on acid man. We are going to be dancing together into the gates of heaven by the time we die together when the russians bomb us. Ill see all you dudes on the otherside! GOD LOVES KU!

June 20, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

MoscowCalls (anonymous) says...

Really, White Owl? The Russians bombing us? Cold war's over, buddy. Either way, I guess it's good that I'm learning Russian, so I can defect if need be.

June 22, 2008 at 3:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

liljay (anonymous) says...

I am a little confused about something. What is White Owl's real name? I have read another article that says his true name is "Saul Tucker" - so which one is it? How did the UDK get a hold of his son? These are just bits of information I would really like to know.

June 24, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lotsasheep2001 (anonymous) says...

I'm hoping that you, White Owl, may be related to a wonderful Disciples of Christ minister I knew back in the 1960's. Best wishes on a happy marriage.

June 29, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

QinAiMin (anonymous) says...

So when is the wedding date for the happy couple?

June 30, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Godzilla (anonymous) says...

Disgusting...White Owl...check your family tree. Julia is probably a long lost daughter born to...well, I honestly don't know what female THING would sleep with you...but still

July 1, 2008 at 1:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Suzan_Brittney (anonymous) says...

I absolutely love you guys! You're so amazing! I saw your pictures on the internet and I just loved your rainbow socks, and your many colored belts! ^.^

September 18, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Suzan_Brittney (anonymous) says...

It's Suzan Brittney!

September 18, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Suzan_Brittney (anonymous) says...

I say go for it!

September 18, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

I_Love_White_Owl (anonymous) says...

I agree with Suzan_Brittney!! I hope to marry someone like White Owl! I'm 14, think he'd be interested when he and Julia Lee get divorced? And they will, I'll make sure of that! Bye bye!!!!

September 18, 2009 at 4 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Suzan_Brittney (anonymous) says...

Uhh...if you're 14, you can't get married...except possibly in Brazil, maybe it's legal there

September 21, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

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