George L. Frick DOVER - George L. Frick died on December 1, 2009, five days after spending Thanksgiving with his loving family. He was born on April 19, 1926 in Red Bank, N.J. His parents were the late George and Irene Frick, formerly of Neptune, N.J. He graduated from Neptune High School in 1944, and served in the U.S. Navy 1944-46 and was stationed in Tsing Tao, China. After World War II, he went to Temple University in Philadelphia, majoring in Radio-TV Broadcasting. At Temple he was one of WRTI-Temple's first play-by-play broadcasters of basketball, football and baseball. He was also an early WRTI jazz DJ. After graduation in 1950, he moved to Wilmington to become the Sports Director of WDEL-TV, Channel 7. During his WDEL-TV days he had an award-winning 15-minute sports show, "The Sporting Scene," five nights a week which highlighted statewide Delaware sports and athletes. He had frequent guests from all areas of sports in the state, including U. of Delaware football, basketball and baseball, high school sports of all types, and representatives of the "old" Wilmington Blue Rocks. George was Vice President of the State's first Little League program in Wilmington, sponsored by the Wilmington Optimist Club. He was a member of the Wilmington Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association (later renamed the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association–DSBA) since 1950, in its second year of existence, and served a term as president, the first broadcaster so honored. After leaving TV George remained active in sports and was particularly interested in encouraging young people. He frequently emceed banquets for Little Leagues and high school sports. After Channel 12 (formerly Channel 7) went off the air as a commercial TV station, George held the following positions: Executive Director of Allied Construction Industries in Wilmington; Legislative Research Director for the State of Delaware in Dover; Executive Director of the Delaware Petroleum Council; and he also worked for the Delaware Department of Public Safety. Following his "retirement" he began a new career as a sportswriter. For 11 years he wrote a 3-day a week column, "Frick's Picks," for the Delaware State News, covering all aspects of sports with emphasis on amateur programs involving youth. He was a long time member of the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame and served on its Board of Governors (1985-99), president 1996-97. During his term as president, the Board had its first African-American board member. His other activities included live broadcasts from Brandywine Raceway; announcer and starter at the McDonald's LPGA for 11 years; board member and statewide speaker for the annual DFRC Blue-Gold All Star football game; board member for the Blue-Gold H.S. All-Star basketball games; board member for the Delaware U.S. Olympic Committee; board member of the Delaware Geriatrics Association; and Member Emeritus of the Arthritis Foundation of Delaware. He founded and coordinated the very successful "Celebrities Tee-Off Against Arthritis" charity golf outing for 10 years. He was an adviser to several charity golf committees including the DFRC Kent County Blue-Gold event. Over the years George was honored by many civic organizations for his contributions to amateur athletics from all parts of the State. He received the Herm Reitzes Award from the DSBA for "many years of unselfish devotion and tireless efforts on behalf of Delawareans and their sports." In 2002 George was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame, founded in 1976. In 2005 the newly refurbished Wesley College Press Box was dedicated to George for his "support and coverage of Wesley College Athletics." At a "roast" sponsored by the Kent County QB Club in 2006 he received the Club's "First Delaware Legend" award for his support and contributions in many forms to sports in the First State. He received the 1999 Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Colonial Rotary Club of Dover for "outstanding service to his community." In 1995 the Lower Delaware Gridiron Club (LDGC) presented him with the Pat Knight Award "in recognition of his lifetime contribution to growth and development of sports and sportsmanship in Delaware." He served as LDGC program chair for 12 years. Most recently the Delmarva Fellowship of Christian Athletes awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award "for living a life of significance and leaving a legacy through his positive contribution to Delmarva sports." A lifelong Episcopalian George has served on vestries at St. Barnabas Church, Wilmington and Christ Church, Dover and on Diocesan Council. He was chairman of the Council's Division of Laymen's Ministry. He was a delegate to three General Conventions and several Diocesan Conventions. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Irving Richroath. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, "Gladdie"; by two daughters and one son and three grandchildren, Peggy Louie (and her husband Michael) of Wilmington; Christine, also of Wilmington; and Paul (and his wife Jill) of Dover; and grandchildren, Julie Carryer, Erin Frick, and Kevin Louie. Visitation hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. A Celebration of Life will be 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Dover. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame, 801 S. Madison St., Wilmington, DE 19801 or Christ Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1374, Dover, DE 19903.