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 George Wackenhut,
longtime benefactor of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, passed
away on December 31, 2004. He was well known as a pioneer in the
security services industry, but was not as well known for his
soccer career as a goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Nationals.
His love of soccer and support for the game continued throughout
his life. “It is George’s roots as an athlete and as a
professional soccer player that he will best be remembered by
the Hall of Fame,” Will Lunn, President/CEO stated. “His recent
affiliation with soccer was in his
support of the Hall of Fame. His service on our National Board
of Trustees and as a member of the Hall of Fame Society was
important to building our programming and the recognition the
Hall of Fame enjoys today.”
Wackenhut grew
up in Upper Darby, PA, a soccer hotbed, and played on a number
of teams before and after his service in World War II. Following
the war he lined up as goalkeeper for the Philadelphia
Nationals, one of the better American Soccer League sides in the
40s and 50s. He was chosen to play for a Philadelphia All Star
team that met Liverpool FC of England on their 1946 tour. He
went on to graduate school in health and physical education at
Johns Hopkins University before joining the FBI in 1951. He
resigned in 1954 and founded the company that became Wackenhut
Security. As evidenced by his generosity to the Hall of Fame,
throughout his incredibly successful career soccer remained a
part of his life.
In lieu of
flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in
memory of George R. Wackenhut to The First Church of Christ
Scientist, 175 Huntington Avenue, A-10, Boston, MA 02115 or to
the charity of your choice.
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About the National Soccer Hall
of Fame and Museum
Located in
Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a 30,000
square foot, state-of-the-art museum in 1999. The Hall of Fame
tells the story of soccer in
America through artifacts, photographs, and video clips. The new
Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks
Zone where visitors have fun kicking,
heading and playing computer trivia stations and video
soccer games. The VideoWall portrays some of the greatest
moments and the greatest goals in history as well as live soccer
action with World Cup, MLS, and U.S. Soccer matches. Unique and
rare artifacts on exhibit range from the world’s oldest soccer
ball to the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy won by the USA in
1999,
Pelé's and Mia Hamm’s uniforms, Kristine Lilly’s golden
shoes, NASL championship rings, the original MLS championship
trophy, MLS gallery - it’s all at the National Soccer Hall of
Fame. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer
Hall of Fame complex boasts the
Kicks
Zone Store,
a research library, four world-class soccer fields and
office/meeting facilities. The Hall plans to add a stadium, an
indoor soccer arena and housing facilities in the future.
The mission of
the National Soccer Hall of Fame is to celebrate the history,
honor the heroes, inspire the youth and preserve the legacy of
soccer in the United States.
The National
Soccer Hall of Fame is open every day of the year, except
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Admission is $9.00 for
adults, $8.00 for students, $6.50 for children 6 or older and
senior citizens. Children 5 and under are free.
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