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What about Jack Hanna? The name Hanna means
John in Arabic and the origin is Lebanese.
Jack Hanna
In 1969 Muskingum College alumnus Jack Hanna earned his BA, completing a double major in business and political science. He did graduate work at University of Tennessee and went on to become a national conservation spokesman who is known throughout America. Jack was born on January 2, 1947 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The route
to becoming a celebrity began in his family's bathtub, where he raised
bluegills and then created a backyard menagerie. He loved animals
and always wanted to work with them. As a boy he befriended and hung
out with a veterinarian who worked at the zoo in Knoxville. He followed
the vet as he made his rounds caring for ailing animals. At college
he reportedly kept ducks in his room and a miniature donkey in a shed
behind his fraternity house. The college disapproved and put a stop
to these activities, but Muskingum retained the donkey as a mascot.
Jack got to parade the animal during football games and impress Suzi
Egli, one of Muskingum's cheer leaders. Jack
Since his return to Ohio to accept the position of Director of the Columbus Zoo, Jack has become a national celebrity who serves as a spokesman for conservation and the zoo. With infectious enthusiasm and hard work, he became known as "Jungle Jack", and turned the routine Columbus Zoo into a remarkable success, known internationally for its exceptional reptile and cheetah collection. Today, the zoo is the city's top tourist attraction. In addition to developing the zoo into model facility amongst professionals, Jack managed to make it known throughout America. He has become a popular and respected animal expert who makes frequent guest appearances with various animal companions on TV shows such as "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live," and "The Late Show with David Letterman," and "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee". His love of animals, enthusiasm, and personable nature have made him a favorite guest of these shows.
Jack has also hosted numerous specials for PBS, Discovery, and The
Nashville Network. Jack's conservation work has taken him throughout
India, Europe, Africa, Antarctica, South America, the Galapagos Islands,
the Amazon and the Orient. And, he is the host of his own hit nature
series, "Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures." He is a Professional Fellow of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association and a member of the Explorer's Club. He is also an active supporter of Easter Seals and the Leukemia Society and serves on the boards of several educational institutions. While he takes all of his civic duties seriously, wildlife conservation remains Jack Hanna's true calling.
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