George Murdock MacDonald

George grew up in Toledo, Ohio and participated in cross country and track at Devilbiss High School and during his first two years at Bowling Green State University. After four years in the infantry during World War II, George returned to Bowling Green to finish his undergraduate degree. He then taught at a series of high schools in Ohio and Michigan, where he also coached football, cross country, basketball, and track. During this time period he completed a Masters degree at the University of Michigan. He subsequently taught and coached at Sault Technical College (now Lake Superior State University) in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan and at Buffalo State University in Buffalo, New York. While at Buffalo State, George completed an EdD degree at the University of Buffalo, and produced the document attached to this web site as his dissertation. After a two-year stint as Athletic Director at Paterson State College in Paterson, New Jersey, George accepted a position as Chair of the Physical Education Department at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, where he later also served as Athletic Director. George was especially proud of his work at GVSU ensuring that the athletic programs were fully compliant with Title IX well in advance of governmental requirements to do so. He also was instrumental in several major building expansions of the field house and associated physical education and athletic facilities, laying the groundwork for the very successful movement science and athletic programs that have been maintained and further developed since George's retirement from GVSU in 1989.