Arthur George

Sir
Arthur George
AO
Born Athanasios Theodore Tzortzatos
17 January 1915
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died 4 September 2013 (aged 98)
Nationality Australian
Education Sydney Boys High School
Occupation Lawyer
Years active 1938–1980
Spouse(s) Renee Freeleagus (married 1939)

Sir Arthur Thomas George AO, born Athanasios Theodore Tzortzatos[1] (17 January 1915 – 4 September 2013),[2] was an Australian lawyer and association football administrator.[3]

Early life

George was born in Sydney, Australia to parents of Greek ancestry and was schooled at Kensington Public School.[4] He later attended Sydney Boys High School from 1928 to 1937 [5] before taking the Solicitors Admission Board test and being admitted as a solicitor in 1938.[3]

Soccer

George was President of the Australian Soccer Federation between 1969 and 1988. He was appointed to the FIFA Executive Committee in 1980.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Honours

George was knighted in 1972 in recognition of service to the Australian/Greek community.<ref name"knight"> Knight Bachelor entry for GEORGE, Arthur Thomas, Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 3 June 1972, http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1083293&showInd=true. Retrieved 11 December 2014, "In recognition of service to the Australian/Greek community" </ref> He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1987 in recognition of service to the community and to education.<ref name"AO"> Officer of the Order of Australia entry for GEORGE, Arthur Thomas, Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 8 June 1987, http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=872487&showInd=true. Retrieved 11 December 2014, "In recognition of service to the community and to education" </ref> In 1994, FIFA awarded him the gold Order of Merit—the organisation's highest honour.[13] He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to Australian society through law, education and sport.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (27 July 1988). "Mr Soccer won more than he lost". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Former ASF president Arthur George dies at 98". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2014. During much of his tenure at the ASF, he also served on the FIFA executive, the first Australian to do so.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "SIR ARTHUR THOMAS GEORGE AO". Order of Australia Association. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  4. ↑ Tamis, Anastasios M. (2005). The Greeks in Australia. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-54743-1.
  5. ↑ http://www.shsobu.org.au/wp-content/uploads/imperial-honours.pdf
  6. ↑ "Anniversary with nine FIFA Order of Merit Awards". FIFA. 9 August 1996. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
  7. ↑ Huxley, John (12 May 2006). "After 32 years on the sidelines it's back to the future for the Socceroos in Germany". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  8. ↑ "Pitching for Asia". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
  9. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (12 April 2003). "Can one man save soccer?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
  10. ↑ Dempsey, Charles. "History". Oceania Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  11. ↑ "Family Record - Arthur George". Burke's Peerage and Gentry. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  12. ↑ Murray, Les (16 July 2003). "With friends like Australia...". The World Game (SBS). Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  13. ↑ Key Australian soccer administrator Arthur George dies, aged 98, ABC News, 4 September 2013.
  14. ↑ It's an Honour: Centenary Medal