Famous Knoxvillian, Jack Hanna

[jmacvols1]

Jack Hanna built the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium into one of the nation's best. He then captivated national audiences on David Letterman’s late-night talk show, "Good Morning America" and a number of his own Emmy-winning animal series that still run in syndication. He traveled the globe as a leading animal conservationist promoting Columbus. It was his home for decades. But at age 76, Alzheimer’s disease has stripped away his memory and the life he led in the public eye for almost a half century. He was first diagnosed in the fall of 2019 with early Alzheimer's but now the disease has advanced to the point where he doesn't know most of his own family.

 

[McDad]

Didn't know he was from Knoxville. That's great.
Didn't know he had Alzheimers. That sux.

 

[VolNExile]

Oh God, Alzheimer's at any age is terrible, and early-onset...

IIRC, he was born and raised in the Island Home neighborhood. They had a lion living with them at some point??

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The Hanna family farm was generally located at the SE quadrant of Kingston Pike and Ebenezer Road. There was a small subdivision developed there in the 1980s. Hanna Place/Cedar Springs Lane.

There was also a high end restaurant there that opened in the 1970s. In the old farm house most likely. Hanna’s. It was one of about 5 or 6 very popular Knoxville restaurants along with Regas, the Half Shell, Copper Cellar (West), and Alexander’s (just on the other side of Kingston Pike). The Orangery was another, but had mostly the old money, Sequoyah Hills clientele. Hanna’s was only there for a couple of years.

 

[UT_VOLS13]

Oh God, Alzheimer's at any age is terrible, and early-onset...

IIRC, he was born and raised in the Island Home neighborhood. They had a lion living with them at some point??

Lion chews off child's arm at Jack Hanna's house in Knoxville, Tennessee - Newspapers.com

 

[zooguy]

Really nice guy. Met him once when I went to a conference 20 years ago at the Columbus zoo.