George Schloegel made things happen and his resume couldn’t begin to list all of his accomplishments on one page.
He was president of Hancock Bank, mayor of his hometown Gulfport, a school board member and so much more.
He presided over countless ribbon cuttings. He filled leadership positions in many civic organizations. He won a lot of awards.
He served on the White House Task Force on Hunger and was passionate about early childhood education.
Schloegel, who died Friday, was raised in Gulfport and came up the hard way — helping his family operate a truck and poultry farm. His first job at Hancock Bank in 1956 paid $1 an hour.
Peggy and George Schloegel attend the 6th Annual United Way of South Mississippi CEO Talent Show. AMANDA McCOY SUN HERALD FILE
He and his wife, Peggy, were married for 64 years and together they grew flowers in their greenhouses to landscape all the Hancock Bank offices. They kept horses on their city property and raised a family of four children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
“George Schloegel’s leadership transcended the private and public sector,” said Jamie Miller, president of the Gulf Coast Business Council. “His positive influence on business and industry in Mississippi is undeniable.”
Perhaps it was his humble beginnings that kept him grounded. “George treated everyone with kindness and respect and his legacy will love on with the people that had the pleasure of knowing him,” Miller said.
George Schloegel, Gulfport mayor from 2009-2013, joined other mayors for a photo commemorating the city’s 125th anniversary. Seated is former Mayor Leroy Urie. Standing, from left, are former Mayor Bob Short, current Mayor Billy Hewes, Schloegel and former Mayor Brent Warr. Submitted Courtesy of Billy Hewes
Schloegel served on the executive board of the Business Council and worked to pull South Mississippi back together after hurricanes Camille and Katrina, the oil spill and several national recessions. He was among the group of leaders who worked for years to get Infinity Science Center built to inspire generations of South Mississippi residents and visitors.
In 1996, while he was Hancock Bank president, he was surprised with the the Navy public service award to salute his four decades of support for the military. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jay Johnson said when few in the country showed support, Schloegel personally greeted Seabees returning from the Vietnam War. In the mid-1970s, Schloegel was instrumental in helping transfer the Navy’s oceanography program from Washington, D.C., to South Mississippi.
Here are photographs and memories of his six decades of service to the Coast.
Gulfport Mayor George Schloegel and Fred Haise, Apollo 13 astronaut and Biloxi native, talk before the start of the Salute to the Military Tuesday night. Tim Isbell Sun Herald file
AMANDA McCOY/SUN HERALD Mayor George Schloegel, left, and Roy Anderson sign the construction contract for the building of INFINITY Science Center on Tuesday, April 6 2010. AMANDA McCOY SUN HERALD FILE
Walter Nixon, Mayor George Schloegel, Barbara Nixon, Peggy Schloegel and Katherine Blessey are pictured at a Black Tie Gala. Sun Herald file
Gulfport Mayor George Schloegel speaks during the Gulfport NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet honoring Lucimarian Roberts (right) and Col. Lawrence Roberts. JOHN FITZHUGH Sun Herald file
Then President Barack Obama, along with Mayor George Schloegel (left) and Governor Haley Barbour, met with Coast business leaders in Gulfport to find out how they have been affected by the BP oil spill. TIM ISBELL Sun Herald file
Hancock Holding CEO George Schloegel speaks at a Hancock Bank Financial Seminar for Women at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Convention Center in Biloxi. JOHN FITZHUGH Sun Herald file
Gulfport Mayor George Schloegel, left, Albert Potts and his father, David Potts, one of the few surviving Montford Point Marines, enjoyed a pancake breakfast at an Honor Flight orientation Saturday in preparation for the April 23, 2013 flight.
Gulfport mayoral candidates George Schloegel, left, and Joe Spraggins laugh Tuesday during their debate at the Gulfport Yacht Club. JOHN FITZHUGH SUN HERALD FILE
Former Gulfport mayor George Schlegel speaks during an announcement at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport of plans for the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Southbe held at the plaza. John Fitzhugh Sun Herald.com File
Mayor George Schloegel (center) gives community leaders a tour of the Gulfport VA to show the potential of the property that now is Centennial Plaza resort on U.S. 90. Tim Isbell Sun Herald file
A pair of horses looks out from their stall at George and Peggy Schloegel’s house in Gulfport in 2014. The couple enjoyed raising Paso Finos and Peruvian Pasos. John Fitzhugh Sun Herald file
Susan Sales waters spring and summer plants in greenhouses at the Gulfport home of George and Peggy Schloegel. The greenhouses supply plants and flowers for Hancock Bank’s 45 Coast branches. JAMES EDWARD BATES SUN HERALD FILE
Mayor George Schloegel stands with YouthBuild volunteers Justin Lewis, Shamae Armstead, Jermill Peterson and Demar Moses at the groundbreaking of the Boys and Girls Clubs community garden. CECILY CUMMINGS Sun Herald file
Supporters and friends thanks George Schloegel for his term as Gulfport’s mayor in a celebration at the Great Southern Club. TIM ISBELL SUN HERALD FILE
Colleagues Cecile Holt, left, and Annette Trahan visit with George Schoegel at a bank meeting. Both women are legacy employees of Whitney Bank and are now retired. Courtesy of Hancock Bank
Former mayor and Hancock Bank CEO George Schloegel speaks at a the 115th birthday celebration for Hancock Bank on Thursday, October 9, 2014, in Gulfport. AMANDA McCOY SUN HERALD FILE
Mary has won numerous awards for her business and casino articles for the Sun Herald. She also writes about Biloxi, jobs and the new restaurants and development coming to the Coast. She is a fourth-generation journalist.
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