History of the Club

The Georgia Bulldog Club of Jacksonville is the largest and most popular Bulldog Club in America. Each year, the club hosts the annual Georgia/florida event, and participates in many activities and club meetings leading up to the event.

Official club insignia

The Jacksonville Bulldog Club was founded in 1946 and was originally named the Jacksonville University of the GA Alumni Club. Years later, it was renamed to the Georgia Bulldog Club of Jacksonville.

In 1976, the logo at right was adopted as the official insignia. A large red felt banner was constructed with the insignia on it along with the words "Jacksonville Bulldog Club". It was used at the Coaches Banquet and Breakfast that year.

To replace the banner, two large round hand-painted insignias were painted and are used as backdrops at all formal occasions.

The insignia is now used on all printed materials, letterheads, envelopes, programs, awards, bumper stickers, and placards as well as this Web site.

As part of the membership fee, each member receives some form of personal item on which the insignia is included. In past years there have been lapel pins, key chains, iron-on embroidered patches, car tags, window decals and many other items.

All members, past and present, owe Howard H. Davis, Jr. a debt of gratitude for procuring for our Club the perfect symbol which immediately became and will forever be, synonymous with the Georgia Bulldog - Alumni Club of Jacksonville.

History of the Club Insignia

In 1974, searching for something different for the Bulldog Breakfast program, Howard H. Davis, then owner of The Southeast Georgian in Kingsland, contacted Dan Magill, Director of Information for the University of Georgia Athletic Department. He asked if someone in the Art Department of the University could draw a new cartoon to represent the club. It was supplied and since that time has appeared on all breakfast and banquet programs. Unfortunately, the name of the artist is not known.

Jumping into the St. Johns River
after a Georgia victory is a
duty of the club president.

A Little Known Tradition

Each year when Georgia plays Florida, the club president signs on to jumping into the cool waters of the St. Johns River after Georgia grabs the victory.

This little known tradition was started in 1997 by then club President, Bud McCleskey (it is believed that it started on a bet). The 2004 President, Paul Klimp, upheld this duty as president and continued the tradition after the Georgia win!

According to Paul Klimp, "Club Presidents who lost used to have to go the other local club (Gaytors or US) the following year to be ridiculed. That tradition stopped when the low lying lizards stopped coming after getting beat up year after year in the 80's."