George Arthur Atkins

April 10, 1932-Jan. 21, 2015 ATKINS, George Arthur, of Hoover and Lake Martin, age 82, died January 21, 2015 peacefully at his home with his loving family around him. He was born in Birmingham on April 10, 1932, grew up in West End, and graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1950. As a walk-on, he earned a football scholarship at Auburn University (then A.P.I.), lettered three years, played in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, and for sixteen years (1956–1971) coached the offensive line at Auburn for Coach Ralph Jordan. After working in Birmingham for ten years, he returned to Auburn in 1982 to work in university development. He was particularly proud of the success of the Generations Campaign and his work helping to raise the funds to enlarge the Draughon Library. He retired from Auburn University in 1995, and always stayed busy helping others, especially those who were recently diagnosed diabetics. He was a devoted father who loved his four children, who taught them how to make it through rough times, and how to be strong. As a coach, he was a disciplinarian, demanding the very best from his players. He drove them hard toward perfection, but loved them and when they needed him, he was always there. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time at Lake Martin. He was preceded in death by this parents, Raymond Wallace Atkins and Nora Hanbury Atkins, his brother Ray Anthony Atkins, and his son, George Timothy Atkins. He leaves behind to celebrate his life and cherish their memories, his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years, Leah Marie Rawls Atkins; his daughter Laura Leigh Drake (Kealon) and his two sons, R. Brian Atkins (Kathy) of Vestavia Hills and son Jack R. Atkins (Nikki), of Auburn; daughter-in-law Stacye Hathorn of Tallassee (Tim); sixteen grandchildren- Elaine Atkins Thomaston (Casey), George W. Atkins (Andrea), Charlcie Hathorn, Jean Leah Atkins, Katie Atkins Gregg (John), Margaret Anne Atkins Fyfe (Adam), Michael A. Atkins, Olivia Noel Atkins, Elizabeth Anne Drake, Kealon Drake Jr., George Dalton Drake, Taylor Ann Atkins, Avery Atkins, Holly Ibanez, Victor Ibanez, and Nicholas Ibanez, and three great-grandsons, Noah Timothy Thomaston, Matthew George Atkins, and George Russler Fyfe. A celebration of his life will be held at the Chapel at Church of the Highlands, Grants Mill Campus at 10:00 am, Wednesday, January 28. The family will receive friends at a reception following the celebration. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Ralph and Evelyn Jordan Scholarship of the Auburn Football Lettermen's Club, P. O. Box 828, Auburn, AL 36831-0828.