Former longtime Gainesville public works director dies

GAINESVILLE - A graveside service is planned Friday for former longtime Gainesville Director of Public Works who died over the weekend at the age of 88.

George Austin, who died Saturday at his home at Lanier Village Estates following a lengthy illness, was also a retired U.S. Army colonel, who graduated from Auburn University in 1942 and entered the Army as a member of the Corps of Engineers. He was a World War II veteran and landed on Utah Beach on D-Day with the 4th Army Division. Austin was wounded in Luxembourg and was awarded the Purple Heart.

Col. Austin retired from the Army in 1968 and returned to Gainesville. He was the Director of Public Works for the City of Gainesville for 17 years.

He was born in Little Rock, Ark., but grew up in Gainesville.

In 1996, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the deadly tornado that hit Gainesville in April 1936, Austin, in an interview with WDUN NEWS TALK 550, recalled that he was walking to school with a friend when the twister struck. Austin said he and his pal dove into the Imperial Pharmacy in downtown to escape the strong winds and flying debris. Despite the death and destruction that surrounded them when they emerged, neither was hurt.

Graveside services for Col. Austin will be held on Friday at 11:30 at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.

(A full obituary is posted on the AccessNorthGa.com's obituary page.)