Lyndell “J.C.” George arrived at the university as a “poor little country kid.” He paid for his college education by working part-time jobs to finance his coursework, according to his wife, Doris George.
That experience turned out to be particularly meaningful for him. After graduating in 1960, George began a successful career as a civil engineer. His first job was with the Arkansas State Health Department. He then spent a year at the University of Michigan where he earned his master’s degree in engineering.
In 1963, George and his partner, Glen R. Blount, conceptualized the use of lasers for building gravity flow sewer lines and improving the accuracy in establishing grade lines. George and Blount invented the first laser to be used by the construction industry for alignment purposes and founded their company, AGL Corporation, in 1968. During this time, George also worked as the city engineer for Jacksonville from 1965 to 1968.
In 1973, George was named the Outstanding Small Businessman of the year for the central region of the National Council for Small Business Management Development. This prestigious honor brought national attention for the Jacksonville businessman.
George stayed in touch with his alma mater, primarily through the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineers, and his wife noted that he frequently donated to the scholarships supported by the academy. It was this connection that eventually led her to establish a scholarship in his honor after he passed away in 2013.
“He always enjoyed meeting the students who received the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineers scholarships,” said Doris. “I thought creating this scholarship in his honor would be particularly meaningful to him.”
Doris George is honoring her late husband’s legacy as a civil engineer and his passion for helping students by establishing a scholarship in his name at the U of A. The Lyndell J.C. George Endowed Scholarship will benefit students in the College of Engineering who are majoring in civil engineering and demonstrate financial need.
Kevin Hall, head of the Department of Civil Engineering, said, “Mr. George was an active and generous supporter of our program and our students. As a long-time contributor to the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering Scholarship Program, Mr. George helped numerous students complete their educations. This is a tremendous legacy – enabling the next generation of engineers to follow the paths that he blazed in his career. The Lyndell J.C. George Endowed Scholarship will ensure his legacy continues with future generations. We are so fortunate to have this level of dedication among our alumni and are thrilled to join Mrs. George in honoring Mr. George and his career through this gift.”