Icehouse Wilson

Wilson was born in Maricopa, California. At age 16, he played for the Montgomery Wards baseball team that won the 1928 American League Junior Series. The team, considered "Oakland's first World Champion Baseball team", won 18 straight games, including 14 by shutouts, in the national junior baseball tournament sponsored by the American Legion.[1] As the team advanced, the Oakland newspapers covered the games and the players on a daily basis, as reflected in the following account: "The excitement that gripped Oakland as their 14 boys progressed through the tournament finals jumps out of the old news clippings. Game results were featured on Page One of the Oakland papers, individual players being written up day after day."[1] When the team returned to Oakland, the headline in the Oakland Tribune read, "Welcome Home World Champions", and the team was greeted at the train station with a victory parade: "Straight up Broadway the lads were paraded, led by a band and drum corps and surrounded by thousands of cheering Oaklanders."[1]

At San Leandro High School in San Leandro, California, Wilson was a star in football and baseball.[2]

After graduating from high school, Wilson enrolled at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. From 1931–1934, he starred in both football and baseball for the "Galloping Gaels."[3] During the 1930s, St. Mary's football coach, Slip Madigan (later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame), was an active and colorful promoter of the exploits of his players. One of the tactics Madigan used to promote his players was by "bolstering their reputations with nicknames that promised to titillate the fans and writers in distant cities."[4] Johnny Podesto became "Presto Podesto from Modesto", and it was Madigan who reportedly bestowed the nickname "Icehouse" on his star halfback.[4] The nickname was reportedly given to Wilson because of "his coolness under competitive fire."[5]

The most important game of the year for St. Mary's "Galloping Gaels" football team was an annual rivalry game against Fordham, played each year at the Polo Grounds in New York. In 1933, Wilson was "heralded" by some as "the best ball-lugger on the west coast."[6] When Wilson led St. Mary's to a win over Fordham in 1933, he was described by reporters as "the best halfback ever to play at the Polo Grounds."[5] A photograph of Wilson appeared in newspapers in November 1933 with the following caption:

"THIS 'ICEHOUSE' COOLS 'EM OFF: Here's St. Mary's new backfield sensation – a lad who has the football followers of the Pacific coast calling him an All-American — George (Icehouse) Wilson, star Gael back who has an extremely 'educated' toe as well as the ability to splinter lines for great gains and do very well the other chores of a ball carrier."[7][8]

Though he became famous as a football player, Wilson was also a star outfielder for the St. Mary's baseball team. As a sophomore, he compiled a batting average of .411.[9] However, a shoulder injury handicapped him in batting as a junior.[9]

Upon the entry of the United States into World War II, Wilson joined the U.S. Navy. In the fall of 1942, he played football for the football team of the United States Navy Pre-Flight School at St. Mary's. In a 1942 football game against the University of Washington, Lieutenant Wilson reportedly "distinguished himself although weather conditions hardly were conducive to sparkling play."[18] He later became a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve.[2]

After retiring from professional athletics in 1935, Wilson enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a master's degree in history.[5] Wilson worked for 37 years as a school teacher. He began his teaching career at Oroville High School and then McKinley Grade School in Berkeley. He was employed at Berkeley High School for 34 years as a teacher, football and baseball coach, head of the boys' athletic department, vice principal and coordinator of student activities.[2][19]

Wilson was a member and served as president of the Berkeley Lions Club. He also worked as a football official of the Pacific-8 Conference.[2]

Wilson retired from Berkeley High School in 1973 and died that fall at age 61.[2] Wilson died in Moraga, California, and was buried in St. Joseph Cemetery in San Pablo, California. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred Catherine Beauregard, who died in 1948. Wilson was survived by his wife, Marie, two daughters, Jan Alexander and Sondra Cohelan, and five sons, Terry Wilson, Glen Wilson, Rich Wilson, Tom Wilson and Rob Wilson.[2]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)