George Meklos was born in Phoenixville in 1913 and became a lifelong resident. He was a three-sport athlete at Phoenixville Area High School and was a three-letter winner in football, basketball, and baseball. He captained the football team as a senior and was selected first-team center by five regional newspapers.

In 1932 he matriculated at Wyoming Seminary where he played football and wrestled and was the wresting team’s captain. He continued his education at Ursinus College earning a BS in Chemistry and Biology while playing four years of football. He wrestled for three years and was a 1936 Middle Atlantic Conference champion wrestler (1936) and captain of the team his senior season.

Meklos began his science teaching career at Phoenixville Area Junior High School in 1941. At the outbreak of World Warr II he was Commissioned an Army First Lieutenant and served as a Tank Commander in the 3rd Armored Division (1942-1946). He fought in The Battle of the Bulge and was the only survivor of a direct hit to his tank. He received several decorations for his service including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart with One Oak Leaf Cluster.

George returned to Phoenixville Junior High School following the war and coached junior high and high school football and baseball. His 1948 high school football team was undefeated and in 1951 were Ches-Mont League champions.

He was recalled to Army duty during the Korean War and served as Military Governor in Czechoslovakia before being honorably discharged a Captain. Following his Korean service, he earned a Master of Education degree from Temple University (1954) and resumed teaching science at the junior high school. He joined the high school science faculty (1960-1966) and finished his teaching career as the chair of the Chemistry and Science departments (1966-1979).

George was a humble man who served his country and his hometown until his death in 1992. For his nearly four decades of teaching and coaching excellence he was posthumously inducted into the Phoenixville Area School District Wall of Fame in 2022.