10/15 - Former George Fox Coach/Athletics Director George Bales Passes Away

NEWBERG, Ore. - George Bales, a former coach and director of athletics at George Fox University and a member of the school's Sports Hall of Fame, passed away Friday, Oct. 8, at the age of 83.

Bales was known for his outstanding relationships with students and was a builder of athletic pride while serving the school from 1948-54. In 1948, he became director of athletics and head coach of the football and basketball teams. In his first year, he guided the football Bruins to a 4-2-1 record, their best finish in years. In basketball, after two runner-up finishes, his 1951-52 team won the Metropolitan Conference title. He had a record of 71-52 in six seasons as the men's basketball coach.

In 1954, Bales helped establish a physical education minor at George Fox. He was inducted into the George Fox Sports Hall of Fame with its second class in 1997.

Bales was born on November 5, 1920, in Newberg, and went to Newberg High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Theology degrees from Pacific College (now GFU) in 1944, and earned a Master's degree in Physical Education from Springfield College in Massachusetts. He also did doctoral studies in Physical Education at the University of Oregon in Eugene, later becoming the P.E. director for the Eugene YMCA.

After graduating from George Fox, he became the first pastor of a new Friends Church in Talent, Ore. Among his other pastorates were the Wyben Community Chapel in Springfield, Mass., the United Methodist Church of Dundee, Ore., and the Rose Valley Friends Church in Kelso, Wash., which he served for 20 years. The gymnasium near the church in Kelso is named for him. He was a volunteer and trainer in the Rose Valley Fire Department, led a project to provide funding for maintenance at two local cemeteries, and coached the women's volleyball team at the Longview (Wash.) YMCA on a volunteer basis, winning several championships.

Bales is survived by his wife of many years, the former Elenita Mardock, who resides in Newberg; son Dorland Bales of Wichita, Kansas; daughters Andrea Bales and Thea Cowley of Portland, Ore., and Marla Godfrey of Kona, Hawaii; sister Dora Cronyn of Camarillo, Calif.; four grand-children, nine nieces, and seven nephews.

Memorial services are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16, at 10:00 a.m. at Rose Valley Friends Church in Kelso, Wash., and at 3:00 p.m. at Newberg Friends Church. Committal will follow at Friends Cemetery in Newberg. Memorial gifts may be made to the George Bales Gym Fund at Rose Valley Friends Church of the athletics department at George Fox University.