Q: Why did you join?
A: A relative of mine, Henry Ginter ’42, was a Phi Kappa Sigma. He was a year ahead of me. I made three good friends when I arrived at Dubois (Campus of Penn State). Henry rushed all four of us and we all joined.
Q: Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity.
A: For me, the best memory is the camaraderie. That’s the main thing I remember.
George Blakslee ’42 Learned the Importance of Teamwork at Phi Kappa Sigma
George Blakslee ’42 learned the importance of teamwork through his time in the Phi Kappa Sigma house. He continued to use that skill throughout his worldwide career. This brief Q&A interview is part of an ongoing series designed to help us get to know our brothers better. If you know a brother you think would make a good profile subject, please send his name and graduation year, along with your name and grad year to our alumni relations service: [email protected]. Make sure to mention that it’s for Phi Kappa Sigma, Penn State.
Q: Why did you join?
A: A relative of mine, Henry Ginter ’42, was a Phi Kappa Sigma. He was a year ahead of me. I made three good friends when I arrived at Dubois (Campus of Penn State). Henry rushed all four of us and we all joined.
Q: Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity.
A: For me, the best memory is the camaraderie. That’s the main thing I remember.
Q: Did you live in the house? If so, who were your roommates? Tell us about a memorable time with them.
A: I lived in the house. My roommates were Tommy Moarn ’42, Greg Turner, Bill Schabaker ’44, Bill Clemmens ’47, James Fitzpatrick ’42 and Sam Eyer ’48. Our junior year, Tommy and I had to take in a freshman. We roomed with Sam. When the war came, all of us went into the service. After the war, in 1946, when the fraternity took back the house from the U.S. Navy, Sam became the house manager.
Q: With whom do you still stay in contact? Who would you most like to find?
A: I am still in touch with Sam who is in Denver, Colorado. Although Bill Clemmens passed away, I am still in touch with his wife, Ruth, in Louisville, Kentucky. She is a missionary who has spent a lot of time in Africa. To the best of my knowledge, my other roommates have passed on. It’s been several years since I’ve heard from Fitzpatrick who was living in California.
Q: What other activities or organizations were you involved with during your college days?
A: Back then, before going to the main campus, we all attended a satellite school for two years. It was a lot less expensive. I played basketball then, but got out of basketball when I reached the main campus. I started out in the Mechanical Engineering curriculum and later changed to geology.
Q: What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?
A: The fraternity generated a sense of teamwork that I have used throughout my life and in my career.
Q: Tell us about your family: Have you married? Do you have children?
A: I was married to Kathleen Peterson in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1948. She passed away in 1992. In 1993, I married a long-time widower Nancy Sue McCormick. We are still together. I have two grown children who were both born in Saudi Arabia. Both Warren Leigh and Sharon Lee are married. I have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I retired from Getty Oil Company in 1977. I was their Chief Geologist, International Division. I spent over 30 years as a geologist working around the world – Saudi Arabia, Saskatchewan, Canada, Turkey, Spain, Canary Island, Pakistan, Teheran, Iran, Algeria and Los Angeles. Now, I live in Wisconsin and manage the family dairy farm.
Q: What affiliations do you currently have and/or public service do you participate in?
A: I have a long list of past and present activities. I served in World War II as a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Corps. I’m a Penn State alumni life member. Other activities include director of the Bank of Brodhead, member of the Green County Board of Adjustment, Past Commander of the American Legion Post, President of the Decatur Lake Country Club and elected member of the board of Decatur Township. I’m also a member in the Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, the Chamberlain Society of Beloit College, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Emeritus, and the Holstein Frisian Association. I’ve been published several times and was named in the 20th edition of the Who’s Who in the Midwest.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy?
A: We like to travel, play golf, and visit with friends and family through the internet.
Brothers may contact George Blakslee by email or phone :608-897-8035.
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