Robinson Military Elephants #3

Scan11616, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. After "Tillie" was retired the act continued on for several years. This picture brings to mind a message I received recently from Toby Styles which read in part:: "How did the custom of giving military titles to animal trainers start? I realize that it is a sign of respect richly deserved, but I was always curious about how it started (perhaps due to the military looking wardrobe that once was the fashion). I recall visiting with Bert Pettus in Calgary when he was announced as Col Bert Pettus, Bert said something to the effect " You would think after all the years I have been doing this I would at least be a General or a Field Marshall by now". "I think you are right about the military titles coming from the attire worn by early elephant trainers. My dad once told me that one old timer he knew had one medal on his chest that stated "Dog Catcher". He also was referred to as Colonel Woodcock, in his youth he had Communist leanings and his favorite fictional character was the "Red Colonel" featured in Saturday Evening Post. On the Floto Show they started calling him "Colonel" and and his buddy John Smith "Bolshevik Smitty" You may be interested to know that Wally Ross named the big Vargas male elephant "Colonel" after my dad. It later became "Colonel Joe". The only legitimate "Colonel" I know is John Herriott who is a certified Kentucky Colonel. Unfortunately I never made it above SP4!" Buckles