George A. Pownall

George Pownell - It is said that life goes in circles and George's was no different. Born in Canton, OH on April 27, 1930 his childhood years were spent in Cleveland (west side), St Louis, MO (where he developed his life long love of the Cardinals), and Joliet, IL. (Home of Statesville Prison). He played basketball for Farragut Junior High, tennis for Joliet Township High School and (probably at the urging of his Mother) flute and piccolo in the world famous Joliet Township High School Band. He was a Charter member when the Band Alumni organization was formed in 2003. George's Mother thought it would be very fine if her son was an engineer, so he returned to Cleveland to attend Case Institute of Technology. Much to Mom's dismay, it wasn't a good fit and George returned to Joliet to finish the first two years of college at Joliet Junior College. (1951). George then enrolled at Illinois State University to earn a Bachelor's in Education (1952). Life was grand at ISU; he resided in Smith Hall, a large private home that had been converted to the equivalent of a fraternity house for athletes. The men of Smith Hall were obligated to follow the strict rules of Dean Linkus -"no drinking, no smoking, no girls upstairs, ..." The Dean would come to dinner often to teach them the proper graces and table manners. It is said that when the building was torn down for campus expansion, the Dean almost collapsed at the number of empty beer bottles that came tumbling down from their hiding places between the walls. George also was a Blackfriar...a spoof theatrical group that performed admirably at various campus functions. How he acquired the monitor of 'Poodinger' is a story best left untold but it remains today his nickname among the Men of Smith Hall. Two years of public teaching and being the basketball coach at Tampico and Franklin Grove IL and a year as Editor of the Illinois Junior Historian revealed the fragile nature of public school and non-profit financing. George decided a return to school was the best course of action. So back he went to ISU and Smith Hall to earn a Masters in Education. It was then that he met and was greatly influenced by Professor John Kinneman who introduced the idea of studying Corrections/Criminology. After all, wasn't he from 'a prison town'? Once the Master's was completed he embarked on and completed his PhD. at the University of Illinois in 1963. It was here that he did significant research with Dr. Daniel Glaser, who became another significant force in his life. Being Chairman and Assistant Professor for the Department of Sociology at Millikin College (now University -1962-64) Decatur IL was George's first foray into higher education. It was here he met clay potter Larry Calhoun and printmaker Frank Eckmair, who introduced and sparked his penchant for the visual arts -he last talked with Larry on the day of his death and he and Frank had just reconnected for a future visit. Moving to the University of Maryland, College Park MD. provided George with opportunities to interact with the Federal and District of Columbia government entities. He developed many professional ties with the different agencies of the Department of Justice, served as the Acting Director of the Department of Research for the District of Columbia Department of Corrections (1965-1967). These ties would become a benefit for his later work. In 1967, George was encouraged by Dr. Oscar Ritchie to come to Kent State University where there was need for a Criminologist in the Sociology Department. George made the obligatory recruitment visit and accepted the University's offer. At that time, both his Uncle Otto (Gail) Pownall and Roscoe (Florence) Pownall were living in the area and still working at 'The Mill". He'd spent many an hour as a child visiting on Uncle Otto's home on Fishcreek Road with his cousins Vera Gail Mozingo, and Joy Eden (deceased). The top of Otto's barn provided a perfect spot to sit and watch fireworks and his children Bryan and Lesley could get a touch of farm life as it had been, including the still standing but no longer used 'outhouse'. And so the circle of where one lives was completed. Much to George's dismay, Oscar Ritchie passed away that Summer so there was no opportunity for the two to work together. In addition to teaching and his continued research in areas of prison education for inmates to prepare them for release, the role of the Parole Supervision Officer and the employment problems of released inmates, George determined that it was a good time to develop internships for students going into the field. He reconnected with then Director of the Bureau of Federal Prisons, Norman Carlson, who shared his appreciation for this concept. Internships -some paid, some not, -were then developed for the Kent State students to gain actual work experience in the field before entering employment. The internships would be of value to both the student and the employer to determine if the field of work was both suitable and meaningful for the student. In the early years, the interns were all men, but as the need for more personnel in Corrections grew and social perceptions changed, women students began entering the field in larger numbers. The placements and the jobs they fostered were everywhere - federal, state, county and city facilities of all levels of security , prisons, jails, halfway houses, probation and parole offices, public defender and prosecutor's offices and other related offices of immigration services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Secret Service, and CIA. George felt it was his obligation to visit each placement when a student was there which resulted in travel to many areas of the country. Over the years the program gained great respect for both George and Kent State. Many others of the students pursued careers in related fields of law, university teaching, private security, military security ...the list is ongoing. George retired from Kent State July 1, 1995. In retrospect he would say that his passion for his career was fueled by the success of his internship program and the accomplishments of his students. He took great pleasure in keeping in touch with his students and following their progress. This has meant all the world to him and to his family. George traveled in many circles: following the Miami University Track and Cross Country Team where his son Bryan competed; the KSU Faculty Golf and Bowling Leagues, his tennis team buddies from Parkview Racquet Club and Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the Portage County Tennis Tournaments. He followed the progress of many potters and other artists being a regular at Boston Mills and the Sea Grove area of North Carolina and other art shows. His friendship and support of Bahamian artist Maxwell Taylor whom he first met in Savannah, Georgia when daughter Lesley was doing her internship at the Telfar Museum, has continued for many years. He got enticed into attending jazz festivals which are usually 3 to 4 days of many musical sets -his list of preferred musicians is lengthy but favorites he did have - and the best festivals were those managed by friends like David Cooper. Trips to Niagara-on -the-Lake, Canada were a regular for theater and sightseeing. Blossom Music Center was a frequent activity for many years. With each venue good food and good wine were essential! Survivors include wife Kathleen Downing Pownall; son, Bryan (Kathleen) of Glen Burnie, MD; grandchildren Kristin, Robert and Katelyn also of MD; daughter, Lesley Anne Bahr (Dana) of Buffalo, MN; sister, Judith Gerstein of Chicago. Calling hours are at Bissler and Sons, Kent OH on Wednesday July 7 from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm. Thursday, July 8 a Celebration Tribute -Music and Memories will be held at Sheraton Suites Hotel, Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls OH beginning at 4 pm.