George was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Naval Air Corps in the South Pacific. In August 1947, he joined GTE California as a telephone pole lineman. He served in various engineering department positions and was ultimately named to the company's public relations department in 1957. By 1960, he was a vice president in the California company and in September 1962 moved to New York as VP of Marketing and Sales. He continued his rise within the corporation until assuming the Presidency of GTE Florida in 1970. He retired in 1984. George was extraordinarily active in terms of the depth and breadth of his civic and philanthropic contributions in Tampa. Among other accomplishments and activities his involvement in the Tampa Sport Authority was instrumental in bringing the Buccaneers to Tampa Bay. He was the Chairman of the Task Force for the Tampa International Airport. He was a Director of the Gulf Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts and was recipient of the group's highest award for volunteer work. In 1981, George was named to the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Hall of Fame and the same year was the Chairman of the Committee of 100. He was intimately involved in the establishment of the USF Eye Institute. He served as Director of the Florida State Fair, the Exchange National Bank of Tampa and was Chairman of the Hillsborough County U.S. Savings Bond Division. He was a member of the Boards of the Tampa United Fund as well as the Bolesta Center for Hearing Impaired Children, the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony and the Junior Achievement of Tampa. His vision for downtown Tampa changed the course of the city when he (along with Fred Church, Parke Wright, and Chester Ferguson) orchestrated the building of Tampa City Center in 1983. George's decision to keep GTE Florida's office in downtown Tampa revitalized the city. In addition, George was an elder at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church and a member of the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, the University Club, Commerce Club, Rotary Club, Sword and Shield Club, Free and Accepted Masons, and for many years was on the Krewe of Gasparilla. He was an avid patriot. He was also a fisherman, huntsman, golfer, reader, fun seeker. Most importantly he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a good friend to many, the ultimate "people" person. His generosity and gentle spirit left an impression with all who knew him. He enjoyed traveling, spending extensive time in the Pacific Northwest, a part of the country which he particularly loved. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Denzell M. Gage, children Janet S. Schweitzer of Randolph, New Jersey; Joan M. Gage of Seattle, Washington; George Robert Gage of Tampa; and Jeri G. Smith of Treasure Island; 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
George was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Naval Air Corps in the South Pacific. In August 1947, he joined GTE California as a telephone pole lineman. He served in various engineering department positions and was ultimately named to the company's public relations department in 1957. By 1960, he was a vice president in the California company and in September 1962 moved to New York as VP of Marketing and Sales. He continued his rise within the corporation until assuming the Presidency of GTE Florida in 1970. He retired in 1984. George was extraordinarily active in terms of the depth and breadth of his civic and philanthropic contributions in Tampa. Among other accomplishments and activities his involvement in the Tampa Sport Authority was instrumental in bringing the Buccaneers to Tampa Bay. He was the Chairman of the Task Force for the Tampa International Airport. He was a Director of the Gulf Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts and was recipient of the group's highest award for volunteer work. In 1981, George was named to the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Hall of Fame and the same year was the Chairman of the Committee of 100. He was intimately involved in the establishment of the USF Eye Institute. He served as Director of the Florida State Fair, the Exchange National Bank of Tampa and was Chairman of the Hillsborough County U.S. Savings Bond Division. He was a member of the Boards of the Tampa United Fund as well as the Bolesta Center for Hearing Impaired Children, the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony and the Junior Achievement of Tampa. His vision for downtown Tampa changed the course of the city when he (along with Fred Church, Parke Wright, and Chester Ferguson) orchestrated the building of Tampa City Center in 1983. George's decision to keep GTE Florida's office in downtown Tampa revitalized the city. In addition, George was an elder at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church and a member of the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, the University Club, Commerce Club, Rotary Club, Sword and Shield Club, Free and Accepted Masons, and for many years was on the Krewe of Gasparilla. He was an avid patriot. He was also a fisherman, huntsman, golfer, reader, fun seeker. Most importantly he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a good friend to many, the ultimate "people" person. His generosity and gentle spirit left an impression with all who knew him. He enjoyed traveling, spending extensive time in the Pacific Northwest, a part of the country which he particularly loved. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Denzell M. Gage, children Janet S. Schweitzer of Randolph, New Jersey; Joan M. Gage of Seattle, Washington; George Robert Gage of Tampa; and Jeri G. Smith of Treasure Island; 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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