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WHEREAS, George "Mr. Entertainment" Martin was born in Millvale on February 2nd, 1928, into a family with six brothers and sisters. George has been a longtime resident of and small-business owner in Pittsburgh's Northside, where he has also spent 69 years as a member of Allegheny Lodge No. 339 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and,
WHEREAS, George has always been involved in entertainment, from music to theatre. During his service in the U.S. Army, George "wielded a trumpet instead of weapons," and he has always been an avid showman; and,
WHEREAS, George spent two years at Carnegie Tech and upon his graduation, he worked as an independent interior designer. His sense of fashion later led him to the men's furnishings department at Kaufmann's in Downtown Pittsburgh; and,
WHEREAS, George left his job at Kaufmann's when he realized his passion for owning bars where he could entertain his patrons as both a host and an emcee. George experienced great success in three bars he owned in his lifetime, but he also continued to bartend at the Elks Lodge, where he has volunteered as a bartender since the 1960s and where he continues to pull a regular shift on Lodge Member nights on most Fridays and Saturdays, making him likely the oldest regularly scheduled bartender in the Pittsburgh area; and,
WHEREAS, George is currently the Chaplain of Allegheny Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Past Exalted Ruler (equivalent to Board President). He spent four decades as entertainment chairman, booking concerts and shows for Lodge members, adding further reason for his nickname, "Mr. Entertainment"; and,
WHEREAS, on February 2nd, 2020, George celebrated by tending bar at the Lodge on his 92nd birthday. George's goal during the celebration was to serve 92 drinks: one for each year of George's life thus far. The celebration drew a large crowd of Elks members, guests, family, friends and well-wishers. God Bless America, led by George, was wond...
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