Dr. George Carson Bales, known to us as Bob, was born in Terre Haute, IN April 6, 1920. He graduated from the University of Illinois with honors, earning a bachelor of arts degree. He earned his master’s in Business Administration Degree from Pepperdine University in California. Later, he earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the International College, UCLA. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Bob served in the United States Air Force as senior pilot and navigator. During World War II, he was a bomber pilot. He flew B-24 Liberators in Korea, and later, he was a transport pilot. He retired as a lieutenant colonel. He served in the Pentagon under General Curtis LeMay for 12 years. Bob was photographed with five presidents.
For 23 years, he was a senior vice president with Pepperdine University, on the team selected to build the new campus in Malibu.
He was the architect-operator-director of the International Tyler Ecology Award at Pepperdine, a project which became known as the “Nobel Prize in Environment,” including the representation of Harvard, MIT, Auburn, Purdue, Baylor, Washington State, Scripps, USC and Pepperdine University.
After World War II, Bob worked with Walt Disney Studios as an artist. He worked on Song of the South, Pecos Bill, Little Toot and The Wind in the Willows. Bales met President Eisenhower, the Shah of Iran, Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney and other leaders as the horseshoe pitching partner of Walt Disney. Bob was the godfather of Clark Gable’s only son.
He authored several books, two of which are entitled “Diamonds, Diamonds, Diamonds” and “Ernie Pyle’s’ Boyhood Days.” Ernie Pyle, famed World War II war correspondent, was Bob’s uncle by marriage.
Bob was a life member of the Society of Illustrators, NYC and recipient of the society’s highest award, the gold Medal of Achievement. He was a member of the Bohemian Club of San Francisco as an associate artist. He has more combat art on display in the Pentagon than any other American artist. His art remains on display at several churches.
Among Bob’s hobbies were his love of travel and entertaining. He was an outdoorsman and a persistent turkey hunter. Bob had a love for life and his friends. Bob is survived by his wife of 20 years, Peggy Bales, and son Jon Bales of Glendale, CA. Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, Beatrice and William Bales of Dana, IN and brother, Jack Truitt Bales, of Manhattan Beach, CA. Peggy would like to thank the caretakers, Betty Traeger, Eli Henderson, Josh Bowens and Billie Williams for all their loving care shown to Bob.
Memorial service will be on Monday, December 19, 2016 at Mountain Brook Baptist Church at 11:00 with visitation following in Hudson Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Dr. Bales may be made to Homewood Rotary Education Foundation, P.O. Box 19333, Birmingham, Alabama 35219 or to Peggie Bales Scholarship Fund, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California 90263.
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