| School: Lincoln | Graduation Year: 1937 |
Year Inducted: 2013
Sports Played: Football, Ice Hockey, Baseball
High School Honors: Football: 2-year letter winner; All-PIL as a Junior. Baseball: 3-year letter winner; All-City as Sophomore, Junior and Senior; All-State as a Junior and Senior. Hockey: 3-year letter winner.
Post High School Career: Signed pro contract out of High School with Oklahoma City in the Texas League; after 3 months was farmed out to Lewiston. Continued playing semi-pro Baseball for the Bend Elks, being named to the All State Teams of 1938, ‘39, ‘41, ‘44 and ‘45.
Commentary:
At Lincoln High in 1937, students were required to write an autobiography as part of their English grade. George wrote that his life’s ambition was to become a big league baseball player. Following his successful high school career playing baseball, George had earned the chance to try out and play semi-pro ball after graduation, traveling to Bend, Texas and Oklahoma before profound home-sickness compelled him to return to Bend, marry and settle down to start a family.
He eventually moved his young family to Portland, found work as a longshoreman and went about the job of being a husband and father. George maintained a strong interest in sports throughout his life, never losing his passion for the game of baseball. He kept in touch with many of his former teammates, including Johnny Pesky and John Bubalo (both PIL Hall of Fame athletes). While he did not play himself after becoming a father, George spent countless hours sharing his knowledge of baseball with his sons, teaching them the importance of hard work and dedication in order to excel at the game. He instilled in his family a love and respect for sports that is still evident today — his grandchildren and great grandchildren continue the tradition of learning important skills and life lessons by participating in sports. (Provided by son Tom and daughter-in-law Cindy.)