George Richard Tolson Jr.

George Tolson was born in Vincennes: the eldest of five children of George Sr. and Alice Moore Tolson. He attended Riley Grade School, Clark Junior High and graduated from Vincennes Lincoln High School with the class of 1948. His classmates remember his self-effacing nature, keen wit, and strong desire to help others. As a student he was active in a number of organizations including the Old Post Sentinel staff, Senior Sentinel yearbook staff, Lincoln Play Shop (in which he earned a Thespian award), National Honor Society, and DeMolay. He served as a Junior Deacon in the First Christian Church. Following graduation from high school, Tolson attended Vincennes University, earning an Associate’s of Art degree. In the fall of 1950 he enrolled at Indiana University where he was the roommate of the late Donald Bell, a recipient of the distinguished alumni award in 1998. While at Indiana he enjoyed being a part of several theatrical productions including work as an extra for the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York. He graduated from IU with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Speech. During the Korean War he served in Germany as a part of the Army Signal Corps. During his time in Europe he toured throughout Germany, England, and France , and on one occasion was the guest of the Mayor of Vincennes, France, while representing his hometown as part of a cultural exchange. Tolson returned to the United States in 1954 and was mustered out of the service in time to return to Indiana University on the GI Bill of Rights as a graduate student. In June 1955 he earned a Master’s degree in Education. In September of 1955, Tolson accepted his first teaching position at St. Francisville High School in St. Francisville, Illinois, where he taught English classes and served as director of their drama group. In November of that year he married Jacqueline (Jackie) Dee Collins a member of the Lincoln class of 1954. In 1956 he accepted a position teaching English and drama at Hartford City High School in Northern Indiana, and three years later the Tolsons moved to Long Island , New York , where he accepted a teaching position with Herricks Senior High School. Here he remained for 21 years, serving as a pillar of the faculty and English Department. He often led special academic committees and was active in various teacher groups. He produced and directed the annual plays and took pride in making them the best productions possible. The Tolsons were the parents of two girls, Rebecca Alice, born in 1963, and Jennifer Ellen, born in 1966. George’s wife, Jackie, passed away in 1991. Tolson was known for his zeal for life. He had the drive and intellect to follow any career he wished, but his choice was to teach. His life’s work led him to sample the nectar of all the things he wanted to know about. As he progressed in his profession he opened up the world of drama, literature, music and critical thinking skills to his more than 5000 students. After his untimely death in 1980, at age 49, there followed a virtual chorus of letters and memorials from former faculty and students exalting how he influenced their lives.