| School: Jefferson | Graduation Year: 1922 |
Year Inducted: 2014
Sports Played: Football, Basketball, Baseball
High School Honors: 2-year letter winner in football; All-PIL second team as junior and senior. 2-year letter winner in basketball; All-PIL second team as senior on PIL championship team. 4-year letter winner in baseball; All-PIL second team as senior; PIL champs in ’19, ’21, and ’22.
Post High School Career: University of Oregon; 2 seasons of football; 4-seasons of baseball; and ran 880 in track. Served as a football referee on the Pacific Coast for high school & college games from graduation until he was 55. Oregon Director for the Savings Bond Division of the US Treasury Dept. for 26 years prior to retirement. Oregon won the award as the number one state in bond sales per capita in his final year.
Commentary:
(Provided by son Richard Mimnaugh on the occasion of his dad’s induction)
George was blessed to have two extraordinary men in his life who were instrumental in his education and the development of the values and skills he carried into adult life.
The first was his father Charles who was a pioneer Oregon lumberman. He taught George and his brothers Frank, Brian and Larry, who were also outstanding athletes at Jefferson, to provide a good day’s labor for their wages working in his mills and later harvesting timber. From the time they were old enough to do odd jobs they learned to be responsible and work hard even when bone weary. He also instilled in them the belief that unless they gave their very best efforts in school or in sports they were wasting time and talents.
Charles loved sports, particularly those played by his sons and their friends at Jefferson and later at the University of Oregon. He encouraged participation because of his belief in the role sports played in molding good, well rounded citizens.
The second man who had a profound impact on George’s education, athletics and life as an adult was Hopkin Jenkins, the Principal at Jefferson. According to dad, Mr. Jenkins was a strict disciplinarian and skilled teacher who demanded his students give their best efforts in the classroom as well as on the field. He pushed Jefferson students to do their best and encouraged them in their endeavors. Hopkin Jenkins became first a mentor to Dad and then a life long best friend. Dad always said he was blessed to have had two strong and supportive role models.