Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1998
George earned All-America distinction as a tough, quick and extremely strong defensive tackle. He was a three-time selection to the All-Southern Conference team.
The native of Waynesburg, Pa., was a tremendous all-around athlete. In addition to playing a full 60 minutes in nearly every game, George also handled the placekicking duties for the Deacs. The school did not have a wrestling team, but he competed in the Southern Conference Championships as a heavyweight and won the league title three consecutive years.
In 1952, George became a second-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears and went on to enjoy a professional career that is still a large part of that famous team's history.
George joined the Bears as a middle guard and was part of a five-man defensive front. In a 1954 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, instead of rushing the passer in passing situations, George began to drop back into pass coverage. And then he started lining up off the center and on two feet rather than in a three-point stance. Thus, he is credited with "inventing" the position of middle linebacker. George was named All-Pro eight times and his No. 61 jersey was retired by the Bears and his No. 47 jersey has been retired by Wake Forest.
George played in the NFL for 15 seasons, the first 14 with the Bears and his final season in 1966 with the Los Angeles Rams.
George was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 1974. He was named to the WFU Hall of Fame in 1998.
George was born Oct. 27, 1929 and died Sept. 30, 1982 as a result of an auto accident in Wisconsin.
