Benjamin Franklin White

Benny lived a full and fascinating life that would make a great movie. He was orphaned in his youth and struggled in school. Instead, he was fascinated by the animals in the Circus. At the age of 14 he ran away from the orphanage and joined a traveling circus. He found his true calling working with the elephants. His career spanned across the country traveling by train with the Clyde Beatty Circus and the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. He also travelled by boat to Cuba with his circus elephants. In 1961 he travelled to Hollywood and worked with “Sydney” the elephant in the Doris Day movie called “Jumbo” released in January of 1962. He played a small part in the movie as Doris always wanted him near while she was atop Jumbo. While he was in Hollywood he met several actors including John Wayne which began his love of Western movies. Although he also loved horses, he declined a position as a wrangler on these Westerns. He finally landed in Florida working as the head elephant man at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL for 25+ years. He enjoyed a lengthy career working with his elephants and helped in the birth of several at Busch Gardens and other zoos. He made many friends in Tampa and met and married his wife Anita in 1978. In his later years, he enjoyed his daily visits with his closest friend Bill, reminiscing their days together at Busch Gardens and watching football on Sundays.

He is survived by a large family that loved to look at all of his pictures and listen to his life story. He was a very kind and thankful man and he will be missed by many.