Circus animal trainer recovers from surgery

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 26, 2000

Legendary animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams is recovering at home in Venice, Fla., from brain surgery, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced Tuesday.

His daughter, Tina Gebel-Delmoral, said that her father is undergoing radiation treatment after removal of a tumor that "is probably cancerous." However, she said he is recovering rapidly and looking forward to helping the circus prepare for its 2001 season.

"He has made extraordinary progress," Ringling Bros. producer Kenneth Feld, a longtime friend of Gebel-Williams, said in a statement. "There are very few 65-year-old-men who are in as good a shape as Gunther."

Gebel-Williams realized something was wrong during a practice session June 30 in San Antonio, Texas, with his son, Mark Oliver Gebel, who is the circus' headline animal trainer.

"He was never ill," his daughter said. "He didn't collapse, or black out; he didn't even have a headache." But he was feeling dizzy and weak, and "walked into one of the animals," she said her brother told her.

Since Gebel-Williams had had a heart valve replacement four years ago, his family initially thought he was having a heart problem. However, a CAT scan revealed a tumor. He was flown to Florida, and the surgery was performed July 3 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He was sent home to Venice a few days later and is up and about and playing with his young grandson, his daughter said.

Gebel-Williams has been with Ringling Bros. since 1969. He now is vice president of animal welfare for Ringling Bros., putting him in charge of more than 400 animals. He's also familiar to TV viewers for the American Express commercial in which Kenny the leopard is draped over his shoulders.