SPRINGDALE -- A section of street has been renamed to honor one of the city's business legends.
The City Council voted Tuesday to change the section of South 56th Street from Don Tyson Parkway to Bleaux Avenue to Gene George Boulevard, according to Melissa Reeves, public relations director for the city.
"The change will go into effect immediately upon the signing of the ordinance by Mayor Doug Sprouse, City Clerk Denise Pearce and City Attorney Ernest Cate," Reeves said.
George was the president of George's Inc. He took over the poultry company in 1969 after the deaths of his father, C.L. George, and brother Luther George, according to the company's website.
George was a lifelong Springdale resident and was active in the community, serving on numerous boards, including the First National Bank of Springdale, Legacy National Bank, Springdale Memorial Hospital, Northwest Medical Center and the Community Care Foundation.
Gene George died Dec. 1, 2010. He was 88.
"[George] was a tremendous supporter of this city, and many of the things we see in this city would not have been possible without the generosity of the George family," Sprouse said at last week's Planning Commission meeting, where the name change also was approved. "The George family has probably given well over $1 million worth of right-of-way for road projects in this city to help our citizens. It's no secret that the improvements to 56th Street that were made with our 2012 bond issue probably could not have happened without the donation of right-of-way by the George family."
NW News on 05/11/2017