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