The George Hooper Memorial Wrestling Award has been a tradition in Wyoming Valley for years. The award is named after Kingston High and Syracuse University wrestler George Hooper. He was district champion in 1936 and a member of the football and track teams. In 1936, George entered Syracuse University, where he was undefeated in dual meets at heavyweight in his junior and senior years. As a senior, George was Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Tournament champion and National Wrestling Tournament runner-up. During the Eastern Intercollegiate Tourney, he was awarded the referees’ trophy as outstanding performer. George was also a standout football player at Syracuse, named All-East as a guard in 1939 and given honorable mention on numerous All-American teams. George went on to Mohawk, NY, coaching high school football. George left to join the Marines and graduated from officers school in Quantico, Virginia 1942. He served in Saipan during WWII, where his plane crashed after numerous missions. He was awarded the distinguished Flying Cross posthumously. The George Award was initiated in 1955 by Jim Walsh, also of Kingston, to honor George’s s memory. It is the oldest award still given in the Valley today. George will always be remembered as a great man, in addition to a great athlete.