George Milton McCluskey Jr.

Physical Therapy Icon Dies

March 15, 1929-

August 6, 2016

COLUMBUS, GA- George Milton McCluskey, Jr. died August 6, 2016 at St Francis Hospital. Funeral services will be held at St. Luke United Methodist Church with the Reverend Robert Beckum officiating on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. and the family will receive guests following the service in St. Luke's Stockwell Hall. A private burial will follow.

George lived in Columbus all of his life. His formal education began at East Highland Elementary School. After graduating from Columbus High School, where he excelled as a football player, he continued his football playing days at Middle Georgia College. Following a career ending injury, he enrolled at Auburn University and graduated in 1953. He returned to Columbus High School as a football coach and it was there that he met a young English teacher, Miss Frances Chester. The young coach changed careers and enrolled in physical therapy school at Baylor University in Dallas, Texas. Graduating, he returned to Columbus and founded his physical therapy company in 1955 and he and Miss Chester were married in 1956.

Rehabilitation Services of Columbus began as a one-man operation. In its earliest days, George met orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jack C Hughston, who was a believer in physical therapy services for his orthopedic patients. The two worked closely together and achieved good results. They both knew they were on the cutting edge of something destined to succeed. Physical therapy was a new discipline in those days, but it did not take long for George's reputation to spread, and the demand for his service to grow.

George's company grew. His was the second privately owned rehabilitation practice in the country to incorporate, which he did in 1970. Service lines expanded to include occupational therapy, speech therapy, orthotics, prosthetics, and electrophysiology services. The company began offering services in outpatient clinics, school systems, nursing homes, and patients' homes, and also expanded its service area to cover four southeastern states. It became fertile training ground for students. At one point, the company employed 300+ employees. Rehabilitation Services of Columbus changed its name to the Human Performance and Rehabilitation Centers (HPRC) to better represent its offerings. Before retiring, George trained a son, Brian McCluskey, and a son-in–law Patrick Graham, to take over.

For more than fifty years, George held strategic leadership positions on the state and national levels. He was a charter member of the Board of Physical Therapy, State of Georgia and The Institute of Athletic Health Care & Research. He served in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. He was co-founder of The Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Section of America (APTA). George has been distinguished with many awards and honors such as the "Georgia Small Business Person of the Year" in 1996, "National Small Business Person of the Year" in 1997, and RSOC , Inc was named "Georgia Family Business of the Year" in 1998. George received the 1997 Arthritis Foundation "Distinguished Citizen Award" and was inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Superseding all of the success stories in physical therapy and as a business-person, George will be remembered best as a family person. He vacationed with them, coached and played with them, went to church with them and taught Sunday School at St. Luke for years. He loved all kinds of people of all ages, especially troubled people. His opening question was always, "How can I help?" Perhaps Eric Bruner, of the Ledger Enquirer, said it best, "McCluskey has a lineman's handshake, a deacon's humility, and a gentleman's grace."

Mr. and Mrs. George M. McCluskey, Sr. and his sister Anne Barrington preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife of 60 years; four children and spouses and twelve grandchildren: Dr. and Mrs George M McCluskey III (Gigi), Milton, Drew, and Isabel. Dr. and Mrs. Leland C. McCluskey (Suzanne), Leland, Jr., Freeman, Palmer, and Miles. Dr. and Mrs. Brian S. McCluskey (Lynn), Brewton, Madison, and Alexandra. Mrs. Susan Graham (Patrick), Mary Frances and Katie Claire.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St Luke United Methodist Church or to your favorite charity .