This award is presented in appreciation of George Easley ’57, who has been a tireless ambassador for Pius X High School and serves as an example of leadership and service to his family, friends, community, and country. One of George’s daughters noted: “I believe his greatest joy in Pius X is the Christ-filled education he and his family have received, academically and athletically, and how it is continuing with future generations.”
George graduated in the first Pius X class of 1957. Selected as the school’s first Homecoming King, he was All City in football and basketball and All State football in Class B. After high school, he attended the University of Notre Dame and played two years of football for the Fighting Irish. He received his BAA degree with a major in Finance and graduated in 1961. George started his military service in the Nebraska Air National Guard and served as the Accounting and Finance Officer. He retired as a Captain in 1968.
In December of 1961 he married Joanne Nowicki, a Saint Mary’s of Notre Dame graduate and a South Bend, Indiana native. Joanne and George had 12 children. All graduated from Pius X and participated in two or more sports, before each went on to graduate college. More than 18 of his 40 grandchildren (so far) have also graduated from Pius X, or are currently attending. Tragically, in 2010 Joanne lost a courageous battle with cancer, which was a very challenging family period. George established the Joanne B. Easley Memorial Scholarship in honor of Joanne’s dedication to faith, Catholic education and Pius X High School. Later, in 2012 George married a close family friend, Donna Watson, whose husband, Richard, had also passed.
In 1962, George started in the securities business with Kirkpatrick Pettis. In 1977 he was awarded the Coors Beer Distributorship for the Lincoln area, later sold in 1983, to join Merrill Lynch as Branch Manager and Financial Advisor. He later joined Morgan Stanley as a Branch Manager and Financial Advisor from 1989-2011. George retired in 2018 with UBS.
George has always been involved in many civic and leadership activities in Lincoln. He was in charge of the Lincoln Youth Football League for 15 years, and served on the boards at Catholic Social Services and Madonna Rehabilitation Center. He was Chair of YMCA Metro Board and two “Y” capital campaigns. He was Chairman for the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Board, and later St. Elizabeth’s Foundation, for a combination of 20 years. George served on the Pius X Foundation Board of Directors for 18 years.
He has been the recipient of several awards and honors, including Jaycees Outstanding Young Man of Lincoln award in 1973, KFOR Sportsman of the Year 1994-95, and Nebraska Securities Industry Association Lifetime Achievement Award 2007.
