Art George Jr.

Arthur “Art” Wayne George Jr, 79, of Kingwood, WV, died on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at Preston Memorial Hospital.

He was born December 29, 1942, in Morgantown, a son of the late Art and Betty Jean (Barker) George.

Art was a graduate of Morgantown High School in 1961, where he ran track and played football. In 1960, his junior year, he was awarded the Morgantown Touchdown Club Player of the Year, was captain of the Allstate Football Team, selected to the National High School All American Football Team member of The Sporting News’ high school All-American team, and he broke two records, the 100-yard dash and the 220, receiving 4 letters that year. During his senior year, Art received a football Scholarship to WVU where he played and ran track, graduating in 1965. It wasn’t a very big surprise that the 5-foot-8, 170-pound speedster was watched and heavily recruited. Art received over 50 letters from programs all over the country but only considered WVU. During his senior year of college, he coached the Grasshopper Basketball Team to a championship in 1965. Graduating from WVU with an undergraduate degree in Physical Education and Biology he went on to receive a master's degree in education.

He taught school and coached in Beltsville, MD as well as Keyport, NJ. Art was going to accept a teaching position in the southern part of the state while he was approached to look after the WFSP Radio station. Making a deal with the owners that they would sell him the station in a few years. He became the first member of the Metro News Radio Network, carried WVU football and basketball for 44 consecutive years, and maintains a close relationship with Preston High athletics, covering the football and basketball games of the Knights.

After the 1985 flood, he was influential in the reconstruction of Preston County Club golf course and club house. He was the greenskeeper for 10 years and served on the Board of Directors for 20 years and chairman of Tri-State Golf Tournament for 20 years.

Art was appointed by Gov. Manchin to the West Virginia Whitewater Committee and was selected by Dominion Post as 50 of the most influential people in Preston and Monongalia Counties.

His great love was fishing, and he lived for his fishing trips. Trout for Cheat was his passion and he was influential in its creation and survival, as well as others on this committee. They have stocked the cheat for twenty years and he remains the President of Trout for Cheat.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart of 55 years, Sandy (Sams) George; one son, Shawn George and fiancée Natalie Stafford of Morgantown; one daughter, Kimberly L. George and finance Todd A Whetsell of Kingwood; four grandchildren, McKenna Ruth Warnick, Madeline Sophia Warnick, Catelyn Ruth George, Hayden James George; one sister, Sharon Ann George-Tatich of Wheeling; a aunt, Elizabeth George of Morgantown; a nephew, Andrew “Drew” and Ashley Tatich of Morgantown; a niece, Allison Jane Wright-George of Morgantown; a sister and brother-in-law, Linda and E. Louis Murphy of Princeton, WV.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Willis Hugh George and Jimmy Joe George: his brother-in-law and best friend, Andrew Joseph Tatich DDSMS. Friends will be received at the Rotruck-Lobb Kingwood Chapel, 295 South Price Street in Kingwood on Friday, February 11, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the memorial service in the funeral home chapel at 5:00 p.m. with Reverend Kevin B. Cain officiating.

Cremation services are under the direction of Rotruck-Lobb Crematory.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Wissam Gharib, Dr. Julia Ramberg and Nurse Shauna Adams for their care and dedication over the years.

The family requests that any memorial donations be made to Trout for Cheat, P.O. Box 261, Rowlesburg, WV 26425. Social distancing and masks are requested.

Personal condolences may be offered to the family online at www.rotruck-lobb.com.

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