An Inspiring Life Filled with Purpose

George McNeely lived an inspiring life filled with purpose. He grew up in Illinois and Colorado and moved to Ventura in 1941. In World War II he had the distinction of serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy amphibious division and was in the first group of Americans to land at Normandy during the D-Day invasion! He later attended the University of Southern California and then came to Ventura College where he taught in the agriculture department and served in the college's administration as a dean. George McNeely helped to found the Ventura College Foundation in 1981 and remained on its Board of Directors through 2008. Because of his passion for education and his desire to give back to Ventura College, he has helped raise thousands of dollars for the campus, benefiting generations of students.

Mr. McNeely also set up an endowed scholarship that is awarded to a Ventura College student each year at the annual scholarship awards ceremony. In addition, he arranged a planned gift in the form of a charitable trust which is an effective way of leaving his legacy at Ventura College while giving him income during his lifetime. His generous spirit has been an inspiration to all who have known him.