by Laurel | April 16th, 2013
14 January 1928
George W. King
Stricken With Heart Disease While in Auto — Had Been Superintendent of Club for 20 Years
George W. King of 77 King Street for the past 20 years superintendent of the Boys’ Club died about 5:25 Thursday afternoon while waiting in his automobile for his wife to join hi. Mrs. King was attending a meeting of the House Club of the Young Women’s Christian Association, and Mr. King called for her. She told him that she would join him within a few minutes, and he returned to his automobile and sat in the rear seat. Ten minutes later Mrs. King came out and found him dead.
Dr. George L. Kinne was called, and Associate Medical Examiner Stanley Cox who later viewed the body and gave permission for its removal to the Alger funeral parlors, declared that death was due to acute heart disease.
Mr. King came to Holyoke about 20 years ago and took over the management of the Boys’ Club which then had a membership of not more than three-score. Largely through his efforts new quarters were provided and the membership increased until today the registration numbers 870. The success of the undertaking was due entirely to his getting the people of the city interested in the boys welfare. A generation has passed under his observation and his death will be mourned by many.
Besides his widow, who was Martha Saunders, he leaves a son in New Jersey and a daughter in Rhode Island.
George Whipple King was born May 19, 1867 in Griswold, Connecticut, and attended the public schools in Charlestown, Rhode Island. He took a business course and was graduated from the normal school. He entered the Indian service of the government as teacher and for a time was stationed at Fort Lapwal, Idaho, and later at Ft. Klamath, Oregon. For seven years he was superintendent and principal of the schools of Western Sheshone, Nevada. Returning to Rhode Island, he taught school for two years, resigning to become an officer of the Rhode Island Reform school, where he was from 1895 until 1907, when he accepted the appointment of superintendent of the local Boys’ Club. He also served as juvenile probation officer, being appointed by the late Judge E. W. Chapin. he was a member of the Masonic fraternities of Auburn, RI and William Whiting Lodge of Holyoke.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
List of Articles on the “Holyoke’s 1920 Scandal” Series:
Holyoke’s 1920 Scandal, Part I — King’s Conduct is Basis of Inquiry
Holyoke’s 1920 Scandal, Part II — King is Arraigned Under Six Counts
Holyoke’s 1920 Scandal, Part III — Girls Testify Against King
Holyoke’s 1920 Scandal, Part IV — George W. King is Acquitted
George W. King Discharged on All Complaints
George W. King, Head of Holyoke Boys’ Club, Dead
