Does the oak tree measure up?
Finally, after visiting the mammoth live oak on and off over the next few years, Hobson contacted a pair of senior state foresters — St. Johns' Greg Dunn and Conrad Wysocki, from DeLeon Springs.
The foresters joined Hobson, and The News-Journal, on a hike to the tree last week. After hours of deliberation, the results were in.
The live oak measured 121 feet tall, blowing past Florida's current champion oak's height of 91 feet. The champion, known as the Cellon Oak, is located between Gainesville and LaCrosse in Alachua County.
Hobson had unknowingly discovered one of Florida's biggest live oaks.