Ed "Bull Moose" Gurney and I were in Carlton L'Hommedieu's Music Appreciation class where we devised schemes to associate the classical tunes we were expected to identify from just a few notes. One in particular I remember every time I hear it on our local classical music station is Trauma Rye. Ed was fun to be around and always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Tragically, Ed took his own life in 1968.
New Stories about Ed Gurney’s Death – February 3, 1968
Gurney's Son Found Shot To Death
NEW SMYRNA BEACH (AP) – The 22 year old son of Rep. Edward J. Gurney, R-Fla., was found shot to death Saturday in a desolate area south of New Smyrna Beach.
Peace Justice Robert Matthews said young Gurney died of "a self inflicted bullet wound in the forehead."
Officials said the body was discovered in a small van converted into a camper. A .22 caliber rifle and a new box of cartridges with only one missing were found near the body.
Matthews said the discovery was made by a power company workman.
No Notes
The rifle, Matthews reported "apparently had not been used for some time." There were no notes he said.
The body was discovered about four or five miles south of New Smyrna Beach on a trail leading through the palmettos to the beach, some 50 miles from the Gurney home in Winter Park.
Matthews fixed the time of death at about 4:30 p. m., some two hours before the discovery. Congressman Gurney, accompanied by his wife, was on a speaking tour at Eau Gallie at the time.
Out Of Navy
Young Gurney was a graduate of Mount Hermon prep school in Massachusetts and attended Rollins College. He was discharged from the U.S. Navy in December and friends said he had debated whether to reenlist, go back to college or get a job.·
Survivors include his parents and two sisters, Mrs. Jill Holt, Knoxville, Tenn., and Sarah Gurney, Winter Park.
Funeral plans were incomplete but a family friend said the service probably will be Tuesday in Winter Park.
Congressman Gurney, a former Mayor of Winter Park, has represented the Fifth District embracing Orange and Brevard counties since 1962. He is a candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. George A. Smathers, D-Fla.
Gurney Son’s Death Ruled Suicide
NEW SMYRNA BEACH (UP) A "self - inflicted bullet wound in the forehead" Saturday caused the death of the 22 - year old son of Rep. Edward J. Gurney, R-Fla.
The body was found in a small van, converted into a camper, in a desolate area south of New Smyrna Beach, officials said. .22 caliber rifle and a new box of cartridges, with only one missing, were found near the body.
There were no notes, Peace Justice Robert Matthews said. The rifle, he said, "apparently had not been used for some time." The youth, Edward J. Gurney III, died of "a self -inflicted bullet wound in the forehead," Matthews said.
A graduate of Mount Hermon Prep School in Massachusetts, young Gurney attended Rollins College and was discharged from the U.S. Navy in December. Friends said he was undecided whether to re-enlist, go back to college or get a job.
Matthews fixed the time of death at about 4:30 p.m., some two hours before a power ·company workman found the body five miles south of New Smyrna Beach on a trail leading through the palmettos to the beach, some 50 miles from the Gurney home in Winter Park.
Gurney accompanied by his wife, was on a speaking tour in Eau Gallie at the time.
I was surprised by Ed's passing. I found out from a friend in New York City a few years later. Ed was my first love and we wrote all that summer od 1962.
What a tragic end to a truly gifted guy. I still have his letters and a picture of his family in addition to copies of his Bull Moose articles. RIP Ed.
Holt Anderson
Ed "Bull Moose" Gurney and I were in Carlton L'Hommedieu's Music Appreciation class where we devised schemes to associate the classical tunes we were expected to identify from just a few notes. One in particular I remember every time I hear it on our local classical music station is Trauma Rye. Ed was fun to be around and always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Tragically, Ed took his own life in 1968.
Holt Anderson
New Stories about Ed Gurney’s Death – February 3, 1968
Gurney's Son Found Shot To Death
NEW SMYRNA BEACH (AP) – The 22 year old son of Rep. Edward J. Gurney, R-Fla., was found shot to death Saturday in a desolate area south of New Smyrna Beach.
Peace Justice Robert Matthews said young Gurney died of "a self inflicted bullet wound in the forehead."
Officials said the body was discovered in a small van converted into a camper. A .22 caliber rifle and a new box of cartridges with only one missing were found near the body.
Matthews said the discovery was made by a power company workman.
No Notes
The rifle, Matthews reported "apparently had not been used for some time." There were no notes he said.
The body was discovered about four or five miles south of New Smyrna Beach on a trail leading through the palmettos to the beach, some 50 miles from the Gurney home in Winter Park.
Matthews fixed the time of death at about 4:30 p. m., some two hours before the discovery. Congressman Gurney, accompanied by his wife, was on a speaking tour at Eau Gallie at the time.
Out Of Navy
Young Gurney was a graduate of Mount Hermon prep school in Massachusetts and attended Rollins College. He was discharged from the U.S. Navy in December and friends said he had debated whether to reenlist, go back to college or get a job.·
Survivors include his parents and two sisters, Mrs. Jill Holt, Knoxville, Tenn., and Sarah Gurney, Winter Park.
Funeral plans were incomplete but a family friend said the service probably will be Tuesday in Winter Park.
Congressman Gurney, a former Mayor of Winter Park, has represented the Fifth District embracing Orange and Brevard counties since 1962. He is a candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. George A. Smathers, D-Fla.
Gurney Son’s Death Ruled Suicide
NEW SMYRNA BEACH (UP) A "self - inflicted bullet wound in the forehead" Saturday caused the death of the 22 - year old son of Rep. Edward J. Gurney, R-Fla.
The body was found in a small van, converted into a camper, in a desolate area south of New Smyrna Beach, officials said. .22 caliber rifle and a new box of cartridges, with only one missing, were found near the body.
There were no notes, Peace Justice Robert Matthews said. The rifle, he said, "apparently had not been used for some time." The youth, Edward J. Gurney III, died of "a self -inflicted bullet wound in the forehead," Matthews said.
A graduate of Mount Hermon Prep School in Massachusetts, young Gurney attended Rollins College and was discharged from the U.S. Navy in December. Friends said he was undecided whether to re-enlist, go back to college or get a job.
Matthews fixed the time of death at about 4:30 p.m., some two hours before a power ·company workman found the body five miles south of New Smyrna Beach on a trail leading through the palmettos to the beach, some 50 miles from the Gurney home in Winter Park.
Gurney accompanied by his wife, was on a speaking tour in Eau Gallie at the time.
Ricker Winsor
This just seems nuts to me but who can explain these things. He was a great guy, creative and full of life!
Nancy Swartwood (Stimola)
I was surprised by Ed's passing. I found out from a friend in New York City a few years later. Ed was my first love and we wrote all that summer od 1962.
What a tragic end to a truly gifted guy. I still have his letters and a picture of his family in addition to copies of his Bull Moose articles. RIP Ed.