George R. Sample Jr., 84, of 505 Mead Ave., Corry, and New Smyrna Beach, Fla., died Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at the Corry Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Sample was the longtime publisher of The Corry Journal, the founder of North Hills Golf Course and a cheerleader for the city of Corry.
Born May 26, 1924, in Curwensville, he was a son of George and Elverta (Bloom) Sample. He was united in marriage to the former Janet Neff in State College, where they met. Together they boarded a bus in July 1946 to begin a 62-year career in journalism that all began in Corry. Mrs. Sample preceded him in death in 1998.
Mr. Sample is survived by five daughters, Christine Jordan and husband, Bob, Corry; Susan Sample, North Palm Beach, Fla.; Janet Sample and Kim Wiler, both of Windermere, Fla.; and Patricia “Sam” Stetson and husband, Dave, North East; three sons, George “Scoop” Sample III and wife, Marlene “Sissie,” Huntingdon; David Sample and wife, Cyndi, Corry; and Michael Sample and wife, Debbie, Corry; 15 grandchildren, Daniel “Boomer” Donahue and wife, Tonya, Carrie Sample, Morgan Sample, J.D. McRae, Spencer McRae, Courtney McRae, Tyler Sample, Sara Sample, T.J. Wiler, Mackenzie Wiler, Taylor Stetson, Kendall Stetson, Riley Stetson, Sydney Sample and John-George Sample; and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Donahue.
He is also survived by two sisters, Kathleen Strickland and Doreen Beard, both of Curwensville; two brothers, Richard Sample, Virginia; and Gerald Sample, Curwensville; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Sample graduated from Curwensville High School and from Penn State University in 1946 with a degree in journalism.
His career in journalism spanned seven decades and included a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. His love of journalism began with his college newspaper, The Collegian, where he served as managing editor. Following graduation, he started as a beat reporter for The Corry Journal and quickly moved up the ranks to publisher.
In the 1990s he was the vice chairman of American Publishing Co., where he worked with the Chicago Sun Times and the Jerusalem Post. Since 2000 he has served as chairman of Sample News Group, which owns newspapers, including The Corry Journal, in four states.
Mr. Sample was active in bettering his adopted hometown, and he was a founding member of the Corry Area Industrial Corp., which brought new industry to the community.
His most heralded community achievement and best known legacy is North Hills Golf Course in Corry, a project he chaired from its inception in the mid-1960s.
Mr. Sample received many honors during his lifetime and was most proud of being named the 1999 Penn State University Alumni Fellow, an award given to a select group of alumni who are leaders in their profession.
Private services will be held for family members Saturday, June 21. Interment will be made in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Corry.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held Tuesday, June 24, at 11 a.m. at North Hills Golf Course.
Friends will be received one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials contributions be made to the Corry Public Library, 117 West Washington St., Corry, PA 16407.
