Cousin Otto
 
 
 

Wisconsin's first Hall of Fame inductee, who was born in Milwaukee, logged his 50th year in clowning in 1991. Gene Lee's clowning career included early stints in Cole Bros., Cole Bros.- Clyde Beatty and Ringling Bros. Circuses. His mentor, the famous Otto Griebling, helped give Lee his clown name, "Cousin Otto", because he seemed like one of the family. Known as America's Favorite Relative", the Whitewater resident created the role of the Red Dot Potato Chip Co. clown.  He was on TV, appeared at state and county fairs and in later years taught clowning on college campuses. He helped start the first clown alley in Wisconsin in 1970 in Delavan. Lee, a newspaper
ad manager, is active in community affairs. He also edited two monthly national clown publications and is display director for the Clown Hall of Fame.