George
is remembered by his Taft classmates as a tumbler and cheerleader the year Taft
won the city football champion-ship, and as a member of “Pops” Rapier’s band. He
was in ROTC, on the swim team and in the senior class play. He was vice
president of his class.
He attended Wright College, Northwestern University for bachelor's and master's
degrees, and Teachers College at Columbia University, which led to his first
career as a physical education teacher, and later an elementary school
principal.
A second career called him to the stage, as an actor and a dancer, a stuntman
and choreographer. On Broadway he appeared in many famous productions: "Pal
Joey," "Milk and Honey," "Gypsy," "Li'l Abner" and "Most Happy Fella.“
He danced on Mary Martin's televised "Peter Pan," was on "Captain Kangaroo" for
seven years and appeared on "Naked City," "Sesame Street," "Ed Sullivan," "Perry
Como," "Jackie Gleason" and "Red Skelton."
Even in retirement, George teaches dance for the Wheaton Park District and is
active in community theater.