A recent gift to the School of Medicine from the estate of George S. Peters brought the alumnus’ lifetime total giving to $4.76 million for student scholarships and an endowed chair in surgery.
Peters, a member of the class of ’33, was a staunch and steady supporter of the Medical School, endowing the George S. and Louise C. Peters Chair in Surgery 12 years ago. On accepting the 1998 Alumni Service Award from the School of Medicine for this and many other acts of generosity, Peters said, “Whatever I’ve done for Temple cannot compare to what Temple has done for me.”
In 2004, he established the Dr. George S. and Louise C. Peters Endowed Medical Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to deserving students with financial need who are enrolled in their second, third or fourth years in the School of Medicine.
Peters enjoyed a long and colorful career. After graduating from Temple in 1933, he set up a solo general practice in rural Ohio, and then served overseas with the Marine Corps during World War II, becoming a highly decorated veteran of the Guadalcanal Campaign. He earned many medals, including the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars.
Upon his return to the United States, he settled in Montgomery, Ala., specialized in abdominal surgery, and became chief of staff at Fitts Hill Hospital and chief of surgery at Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Peters passed away in 2005 at the age of 100.
Photo courtesy the School of Medicine
In 2005, John M. Daly (right), dean of the School of Medicine, and Daniel T. Dempsey, chair of surgery, visited Peters in Alabama to celebrate his 100th birthday.
