Dr. Gerald “Jerry” S. George, USA Gymnastics Hall of Famer, passed away Friday, January 10 at the age of 82. George was a well-respected pillar in the gymnastics community, taking on the roles of athlete, coach, academic and administrator within the sport throughout his life.
George began his career in gymnastics as a gymnast at Michigan State. He completed his degree at Louisiana State University, where he soon took over the LSU men’s gymnastics program and led them to participate in their first NCAA Championships.
Following his time at LSU, where he earned a Ph.D. in kinesiology, George became one of the leading authorities and writers on gymnastics training and technique, authoring and contributing to over 10 textbooks and 120 articles on the sport. George spent time as the Director of Education and Safety for the United States Gymnastics Federation (USGF, now known as USA Gymnastics), served as Senior Editor of USGF Gymnastics Safety Manuals and was Project Director of the USGF Gymnastics Safety Certification Program.
George received more than 10 awards spanning the academic and sporting fields. He was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and the LSU ‘Hall of Distinction” in 2011; he also was a recipient of the World Acrobatic Society Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janet Noyes George, three daughters, and a son. For funeral and visitation information in Louisiana, please click here.