CAVALIER, George J. (1924-1986)

CAVALIER

Posted By: Mary E Boyer (email)
Date: 2/20/2007 at 19:13:12

CAVALIER, George J (1924 - 1986)

George CAVALIER

George J. CAVALIER, 120 E. Steelman Ave., Northfield, NJ, producer-director and writer of the Miss America Pageant for many years, died on Christmas Eve in Shore Memorial Hospital, Sommers Point, N.J. CAVALIER was 62. The body was cremated and burial will be in Cedar Rapids Memorial Cemetery Mausoleum at a later date.

George CAVALIER was the producer of the Miss California Pageant from 1956 to 1965 and became a national field director for the Miss America Pageant in 1961. In 1965 he moved to the east, and was promoted to be executive in charge of pageant production, director of National and Field Production and associate producer of the nationwide television presentation of the pageant.

A native of Traer, CAVALIER was a graduate of the University of Iowa and did post graduate work at the General Motors Institute in Detroit. He was assisting in the family’s automobile sales business in Traer when he joined the Jaycees and began to stage local and state contests leading to the crowning of Miss Iowa.

In 1954 he moved to Santa Cruz, Calif., and was a manager of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce. He eventually became involved in pageants when as a Jaycees executive he was the director of the Miss California State Pageant.

CAVALIER received several commendations from the undersecretary of definse for his role in producing USO shows and for providing entertainment for the Armed Forces. he was credited with producing shows for military personnel in South Korea, Vietnam and Japan.

CAVALIER was a member of the Hesperia Lodge #340, A.F. & A.M. of Traer, was past president of the Traer Chamber of Commerce and the Traer Lions Club. He was also a member of delta Epsilon Fraternity.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; a son, George Wesley CAVALIER of Colorado Springs, Col.; a daughter, Rene SOMERS of Dorothy, N. J.; his mother, Lula HYLAND of Traer, and a sister, Paula AMBROSY of Houston, Texas.

Transcribed for Tama County by Mary E Boyer (of no relation)