He was the son of John Louis 'Jack' (1879-1952) and Susan Leona 'Leo' Young (1884-1932) Akard Sr.
His siblings: John Louis 'Jack' Akard Jr (1907-1967); Leona Ann Fulford (1911-1988); James Miller Akard (1912-1967) and Dorothy Mary Epstein (1914-1985).
He married Martha 'Marguerite' Watkins on 5 Jul 1929 in Indianapolis, Marion Co, Indiana.
Their children: Jacqueline Ann Robinson (1930-1991); Patricia Ann Plant 1932-2015; Martha Sue 'Marty' Short 1944- and John Louis Akard III 1945-.
While George and his wife and daughter, Jackie, were staying with his parents on Dorman St in 1932, George's mother died. Six day later George's daughter, Pat, was born at that house (ll Jul). Soon after that the household disbanded.
George's father went to Henderson, Kentucky; his sister, Leona, moved in with a girlfriend she worked with; his sister, Dorothy, moved to Chicago; his aunt, Bert, (blind) had surgery and moved to the Fouts house to be their live in housekeeper (Bert -3 years later at age married the son); and George and his family found other accommodations.
From IPALCO NEWS (Indianapolis Power & Light Co) Feb 1974:
In March 1966 Mr Akard transferred from Pritchard plant (Martinsville, IN) to the then new Petersburg generating station as a supervisor of operations. Since September of 1971 he has been assistant superintendent there. After joining our Company on Oct 9, 1941, he worked at Perry-K and at Mill Street before going to Pritchard.
A native of Indianapolis and a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School, George enjoys living in Petersburg and plans to stay there during retirement. In his words, he is going to "fish like nobody's business!".
He also plans to spend some of his new leisure time writing a history of the Petersburg plant.
Also from IPALCO NEWS: A NOTE FROM GEORGE
IPALCO employees who know George Akard (and many of them do), agree that he is a character! True, a loved one, but still a character! As George faces retirement, here are some of his comments about his IPALCO career:
"With the threat of World War II the Army created a manpower shortage. The Indianapolis Power & Light Company needed men in the worst way, so I was hired by the Company in 1941 on Oct 9. I worked at the Perry-K plant for about a year and my influence was tremendous. The Japanese raided Pearl Harbor, our research foreman had a heart attack ,the maintenance foreman was fired and the plant's chief engineer lost his contract with the Company.
At Mill Street I thought things would settle down, but I was wrong. My wife got pregnant, the chief engineer got sick, and shortly after I left they tore the plant down. I guess I transferred to the new plant in Martinsville just in time.
I thought things had to change and any change had to be better. How wrong I was!!! After I had been there a few years the cost of the first two units was $2 million over the predicted cost, the power production manager was injured in a car wreck, the plant superintendent had a serious illness and the country went to war again.
The Company shipped me to Petersburg while it was being built thinking that if there were no units there I couldn't jinx anything. They tried to keep me out of trouble by moving me up to second line supervision. It didn't help much - in the last eight years the poor town of Petersburg had an earth quake, two tornadoes, three murders and one scandalous divorce case.
With my retirement date nearing (March 1) the Company is going to celebrate with a party come Feb 22, 1974.
Everything looks normal: I plan to raise a garden, travel and fish. That should be real good, but the doctor said I can't do that kind of work, the gas rationing will knock out traveling and the river is over its banks; besides that the bottom dropped out of the stock market.
With all these problems staring me in the face I find out the Company plans to replace me with a station helper, Jr, and let Nellie do my work during her lunch hour."
He had a deep interest in family and delved into genealogy.
George had a very special sense of humor and sensitivity that showed up in his poetry. We found this in his papers after his death. The following was published by a vanity press for our family. There were dozens of his poems in it. They were mostly about his love for Marguerite. I don't think it's available any more.
George was a bit of a poet in his later years. His daughter had his collection of poetry made up in a small book. Here's a sample:
MY BRIGHT RED JUMPSUIT by George Akard
I bought a bright red jumpsuit, the color's a little loud.
There's no doubt about it - makes you stand out in a crowd.
The shade is sort of fire engine red and it was just my luck
the first smart aleck that I met said, "Where'd you park your truck?"
A little old lady at the store - and she was just a funnin'
"You can't slip up on anyone cause they can hear you comin'."
I thought of giving it away - let someone else have fun,
but then again I can't do that cause I don't hate no one.
I guess I might as well keep it - the thought occurred to me
I should never be hit by a car unless the driver can't see.
He died at age 74 years 6 months 28 days.
Further notes:
George was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Besides membership in the "Blue Lodge", the basic membership, he took degrees in higher orders. The Council and the Commandry are the ones I remember though he might have had higher. He joined the Eastern Star, the women's version of the Masonic Lodge. The highest position in a chapter is Worthy Matron. She has a Worthy Patron beside her. George "Went through the chairs" as they say, to become Worthy Patron at least 3 times. Once with his wife and at least twice with her friends who's husband didn't want to do it. In the "Work" of the Blue Lodge is "The Middle Chamber" lecture. It is over 4000 words long. George was one of the few that would travel to other lodges to give this difficult lecture.
As a teenager, his family moved to Chattanooga, TN. He told a story about a bridge there. The Tennessee River passes through Chattanooga making a bend they call Moccasin Bend. One day, a friend dared George to climb to the top of a bridge across the river. It was an iron trestle bridge with rivets on the top of the "I" beam. George took off his shoes and shinnied up the "I" beam. When he sat on the top, traffic on the bridge stopped to look at him. Next thing you know, a Cop shows up and demands that he come down. He could see himself arriving home with the cop and explaining this to his parents. He knew a Razor Strapping was in his future if that happened. He told his friend to bring his shoes home. Then he dove into the river. He swam over to a log floating down stream. He hid behind it until it was around the Bend. It took him hours to walk home barefoot. He still got the Strapping though, his friend didn't bring his new shoes home.
by qashqai
Siblings:
John Louis "Jack" Akard 1907-1967
Leona Ann Akard Fulford 1911-1988
James Miller Akard 1912-1967
Dorothy Mary "Dot" Akard Epstein 1914-1985
His siblings: John Louis 'Jack' Akard Jr (1907-1967); Leona Ann Fulford (1911-1988); James Miller Akard (1912-1967) and Dorothy Mary Epstein (1914-1985).
He married Martha 'Marguerite' Watkins on 5 Jul 1929 in Indianapolis, Marion Co, Indiana.
Their children: Jacqueline Ann Robinson (1930-1991); Patricia Ann Plant 1932-2015; Martha Sue 'Marty' Short 1944- and John Louis Akard III 1945-.
While George and his wife and daughter, Jackie, were staying with his parents on Dorman St in 1932, George's mother died. Six day later George's daughter, Pat, was born at that house (ll Jul). Soon after that the household disbanded.
George's father went to Henderson, Kentucky; his sister, Leona, moved in with a girlfriend she worked with; his sister, Dorothy, moved to Chicago; his aunt, Bert, (blind) had surgery and moved to the Fouts house to be their live in housekeeper (Bert -3 years later at age married the son); and George and his family found other accommodations.
From IPALCO NEWS (Indianapolis Power & Light Co) Feb 1974:
In March 1966 Mr Akard transferred from Pritchard plant (Martinsville, IN) to the then new Petersburg generating station as a supervisor of operations. Since September of 1971 he has been assistant superintendent there. After joining our Company on Oct 9, 1941, he worked at Perry-K and at Mill Street before going to Pritchard.
A native of Indianapolis and a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School, George enjoys living in Petersburg and plans to stay there during retirement. In his words, he is going to "fish like nobody's business!".
He also plans to spend some of his new leisure time writing a history of the Petersburg plant.
Also from IPALCO NEWS: A NOTE FROM GEORGE
IPALCO employees who know George Akard (and many of them do), agree that he is a character! True, a loved one, but still a character! As George faces retirement, here are some of his comments about his IPALCO career:
"With the threat of World War II the Army created a manpower shortage. The Indianapolis Power & Light Company needed men in the worst way, so I was hired by the Company in 1941 on Oct 9. I worked at the Perry-K plant for about a year and my influence was tremendous. The Japanese raided Pearl Harbor, our research foreman had a heart attack ,the maintenance foreman was fired and the plant's chief engineer lost his contract with the Company.
At Mill Street I thought things would settle down, but I was wrong. My wife got pregnant, the chief engineer got sick, and shortly after I left they tore the plant down. I guess I transferred to the new plant in Martinsville just in time.
I thought things had to change and any change had to be better. How wrong I was!!! After I had been there a few years the cost of the first two units was $2 million over the predicted cost, the power production manager was injured in a car wreck, the plant superintendent had a serious illness and the country went to war again.
The Company shipped me to Petersburg while it was being built thinking that if there were no units there I couldn't jinx anything. They tried to keep me out of trouble by moving me up to second line supervision. It didn't help much - in the last eight years the poor town of Petersburg had an earth quake, two tornadoes, three murders and one scandalous divorce case.
With my retirement date nearing (March 1) the Company is going to celebrate with a party come Feb 22, 1974.
Everything looks normal: I plan to raise a garden, travel and fish. That should be real good, but the doctor said I can't do that kind of work, the gas rationing will knock out traveling and the river is over its banks; besides that the bottom dropped out of the stock market.
With all these problems staring me in the face I find out the Company plans to replace me with a station helper, Jr, and let Nellie do my work during her lunch hour."
He had a deep interest in family and delved into genealogy.
George had a very special sense of humor and sensitivity that showed up in his poetry. We found this in his papers after his death. The following was published by a vanity press for our family. There were dozens of his poems in it. They were mostly about his love for Marguerite. I don't think it's available any more.
George was a bit of a poet in his later years. His daughter had his collection of poetry made up in a small book. Here's a sample:
MY BRIGHT RED JUMPSUIT by George Akard
I bought a bright red jumpsuit, the color's a little loud.
There's no doubt about it - makes you stand out in a crowd.
The shade is sort of fire engine red and it was just my luck
the first smart aleck that I met said, "Where'd you park your truck?"
A little old lady at the store - and she was just a funnin'
"You can't slip up on anyone cause they can hear you comin'."
I thought of giving it away - let someone else have fun,
but then again I can't do that cause I don't hate no one.
I guess I might as well keep it - the thought occurred to me
I should never be hit by a car unless the driver can't see.
He died at age 74 years 6 months 28 days.
Further notes:
George was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Besides membership in the "Blue Lodge", the basic membership, he took degrees in higher orders. The Council and the Commandry are the ones I remember though he might have had higher. He joined the Eastern Star, the women's version of the Masonic Lodge. The highest position in a chapter is Worthy Matron. She has a Worthy Patron beside her. George "Went through the chairs" as they say, to become Worthy Patron at least 3 times. Once with his wife and at least twice with her friends who's husband didn't want to do it. In the "Work" of the Blue Lodge is "The Middle Chamber" lecture. It is over 4000 words long. George was one of the few that would travel to other lodges to give this difficult lecture.
As a teenager, his family moved to Chattanooga, TN. He told a story about a bridge there. The Tennessee River passes through Chattanooga making a bend they call Moccasin Bend. One day, a friend dared George to climb to the top of a bridge across the river. It was an iron trestle bridge with rivets on the top of the "I" beam. George took off his shoes and shinnied up the "I" beam. When he sat on the top, traffic on the bridge stopped to look at him. Next thing you know, a Cop shows up and demands that he come down. He could see himself arriving home with the cop and explaining this to his parents. He knew a Razor Strapping was in his future if that happened. He told his friend to bring his shoes home. Then he dove into the river. He swam over to a log floating down stream. He hid behind it until it was around the Bend. It took him hours to walk home barefoot. He still got the Strapping though, his friend didn't bring his new shoes home.
by qashqai
Siblings:
John Louis "Jack" Akard 1907-1967
Leona Ann Akard Fulford 1911-1988
James Miller Akard 1912-1967
Dorothy Mary "Dot" Akard Epstein 1914-1985
He was the son of John Louis 'Jack' (1879-1952) and Susan Leona 'Leo' Young (1884-1932) Akard Sr.
His siblings: John Louis 'Jack' Akard Jr (1907-1967); Leona Ann Fulford (1911-1988); James Miller Akard (1912-1967) and Dorothy Mary Epstein (1914-1985).
He married Martha 'Marguerite' Watkins on 5 Jul 1929 in Indianapolis, Marion Co, Indiana.
Their children: Jacqueline Ann Robinson (1930-1991); Patricia Ann Plant 1932-2015; Martha Sue 'Marty' Short 1944- and John Louis Akard III 1945-.
While George and his wife and daughter, Jackie, were staying with his parents on Dorman St in 1932, George's mother died. Six day later George's daughter, Pat, was born at that house (ll Jul). Soon after that the household disbanded.
George's father went to Henderson, Kentucky; his sister, Leona, moved in with a girlfriend she worked with; his sister, Dorothy, moved to Chicago; his aunt, Bert, (blind) had surgery and moved to the Fouts house to be their live in housekeeper (Bert -3 years later at age married the son); and George and his family found other accommodations.
From IPALCO NEWS (Indianapolis Power & Light Co) Feb 1974:
In March 1966 Mr Akard transferred from Pritchard plant (Martinsville, IN) to the then new Petersburg generating station as a supervisor of operations. Since September of 1971 he has been assistant superintendent there. After joining our Company on Oct 9, 1941, he worked at Perry-K and at Mill Street before going to Pritchard.
A native of Indianapolis and a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School, George enjoys living in Petersburg and plans to stay there during retirement. In his words, he is going to "fish like nobody's business!".
He also plans to spend some of his new leisure time writing a history of the Petersburg plant.
Also from IPALCO NEWS: A NOTE FROM GEORGE
IPALCO employees who know George Akard (and many of them do), agree that he is a character! True, a loved one, but still a character! As George faces retirement, here are some of his comments about his IPALCO career:
"With the threat of World War II the Army created a manpower shortage. The Indianapolis Power & Light Company needed men in the worst way, so I was hired by the Company in 1941 on Oct 9. I worked at the Perry-K plant for about a year and my influence was tremendous. The Japanese raided Pearl Harbor, our research foreman had a heart attack ,the maintenance foreman was fired and the plant's chief engineer lost his contract with the Company.
At Mill Street I thought things would settle down, but I was wrong. My wife got pregnant, the chief engineer got sick, and shortly after I left they tore the plant down. I guess I transferred to the new plant in Martinsville just in time.
I thought things had to change and any change had to be better. How wrong I was!!! After I had been there a few years the cost of the first two units was $2 million over the predicted cost, the power production manager was injured in a car wreck, the plant superintendent had a serious illness and the country went to war again.
The Company shipped me to Petersburg while it was being built thinking that if there were no units there I couldn't jinx anything. They tried to keep me out of trouble by moving me up to second line supervision. It didn't help much - in the last eight years the poor town of Petersburg had an earth quake, two tornadoes, three murders and one scandalous divorce case.
With my retirement date nearing (March 1) the Company is going to celebrate with a party come Feb 22, 1974.
Everything looks normal: I plan to raise a garden, travel and fish. That should be real good, but the doctor said I can't do that kind of work, the gas rationing will knock out traveling and the river is over its banks; besides that the bottom dropped out of the stock market.
With all these problems staring me in the face I find out the Company plans to replace me with a station helper, Jr, and let Nellie do my work during her lunch hour."
He had a deep interest in family and delved into genealogy.
George had a very special sense of humor and sensitivity that showed up in his poetry. We found this in his papers after his death. The following was published by a vanity press for our family. There were dozens of his poems in it. They were mostly about his love for Marguerite. I don't think it's available any more.
George was a bit of a poet in his later years. His daughter had his collection of poetry made up in a small book. Here's a sample:
MY BRIGHT RED JUMPSUIT by George Akard
I bought a bright red jumpsuit, the color's a little loud.
There's no doubt about it - makes you stand out in a crowd.
The shade is sort of fire engine red and it was just my luck
the first smart aleck that I met said, "Where'd you park your truck?"
A little old lady at the store - and she was just a funnin'
"You can't slip up on anyone cause they can hear you comin'."
I thought of giving it away - let someone else have fun,
but then again I can't do that cause I don't hate no one.
I guess I might as well keep it - the thought occurred to me
I should never be hit by a car unless the driver can't see.
He died at age 74 years 6 months 28 days.
Further notes:
George was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Besides membership in the "Blue Lodge", the basic membership, he took degrees in higher orders. The Council and the Commandry are the ones I remember though he might have had higher. He joined the Eastern Star, the women's version of the Masonic Lodge. The highest position in a chapter is Worthy Matron. She has a Worthy Patron beside her. George "Went through the chairs" as they say, to become Worthy Patron at least 3 times. Once with his wife and at least twice with her friends who's husband didn't want to do it. In the "Work" of the Blue Lodge is "The Middle Chamber" lecture. It is over 4000 words long. George was one of the few that would travel to other lodges to give this difficult lecture.
As a teenager, his family moved to Chattanooga, TN. He told a story about a bridge there. The Tennessee River passes through Chattanooga making a bend they call Moccasin Bend. One day, a friend dared George to climb to the top of a bridge across the river. It was an iron trestle bridge with rivets on the top of the "I" beam. George took off his shoes and shinnied up the "I" beam. When he sat on the top, traffic on the bridge stopped to look at him. Next thing you know, a Cop shows up and demands that he come down. He could see himself arriving home with the cop and explaining this to his parents. He knew a Razor Strapping was in his future if that happened. He told his friend to bring his shoes home. Then he dove into the river. He swam over to a log floating down stream. He hid behind it until it was around the Bend. It took him hours to walk home barefoot. He still got the Strapping though, his friend didn't bring his new shoes home.
by qashqai
Siblings:
John Louis "Jack" Akard 1907-1967
Leona Ann Akard Fulford 1911-1988
James Miller Akard 1912-1967
Dorothy Mary "Dot" Akard Epstein 1914-1985
His siblings: John Louis 'Jack' Akard Jr (1907-1967); Leona Ann Fulford (1911-1988); James Miller Akard (1912-1967) and Dorothy Mary Epstein (1914-1985).
He married Martha 'Marguerite' Watkins on 5 Jul 1929 in Indianapolis, Marion Co, Indiana.
Their children: Jacqueline Ann Robinson (1930-1991); Patricia Ann Plant 1932-2015; Martha Sue 'Marty' Short 1944- and John Louis Akard III 1945-.
While George and his wife and daughter, Jackie, were staying with his parents on Dorman St in 1932, George's mother died. Six day later George's daughter, Pat, was born at that house (ll Jul). Soon after that the household disbanded.
George's father went to Henderson, Kentucky; his sister, Leona, moved in with a girlfriend she worked with; his sister, Dorothy, moved to Chicago; his aunt, Bert, (blind) had surgery and moved to the Fouts house to be their live in housekeeper (Bert -3 years later at age married the son); and George and his family found other accommodations.
From IPALCO NEWS (Indianapolis Power & Light Co) Feb 1974:
In March 1966 Mr Akard transferred from Pritchard plant (Martinsville, IN) to the then new Petersburg generating station as a supervisor of operations. Since September of 1971 he has been assistant superintendent there. After joining our Company on Oct 9, 1941, he worked at Perry-K and at Mill Street before going to Pritchard.
A native of Indianapolis and a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School, George enjoys living in Petersburg and plans to stay there during retirement. In his words, he is going to "fish like nobody's business!".
He also plans to spend some of his new leisure time writing a history of the Petersburg plant.
Also from IPALCO NEWS: A NOTE FROM GEORGE
IPALCO employees who know George Akard (and many of them do), agree that he is a character! True, a loved one, but still a character! As George faces retirement, here are some of his comments about his IPALCO career:
"With the threat of World War II the Army created a manpower shortage. The Indianapolis Power & Light Company needed men in the worst way, so I was hired by the Company in 1941 on Oct 9. I worked at the Perry-K plant for about a year and my influence was tremendous. The Japanese raided Pearl Harbor, our research foreman had a heart attack ,the maintenance foreman was fired and the plant's chief engineer lost his contract with the Company.
At Mill Street I thought things would settle down, but I was wrong. My wife got pregnant, the chief engineer got sick, and shortly after I left they tore the plant down. I guess I transferred to the new plant in Martinsville just in time.
I thought things had to change and any change had to be better. How wrong I was!!! After I had been there a few years the cost of the first two units was $2 million over the predicted cost, the power production manager was injured in a car wreck, the plant superintendent had a serious illness and the country went to war again.
The Company shipped me to Petersburg while it was being built thinking that if there were no units there I couldn't jinx anything. They tried to keep me out of trouble by moving me up to second line supervision. It didn't help much - in the last eight years the poor town of Petersburg had an earth quake, two tornadoes, three murders and one scandalous divorce case.
With my retirement date nearing (March 1) the Company is going to celebrate with a party come Feb 22, 1974.
Everything looks normal: I plan to raise a garden, travel and fish. That should be real good, but the doctor said I can't do that kind of work, the gas rationing will knock out traveling and the river is over its banks; besides that the bottom dropped out of the stock market.
With all these problems staring me in the face I find out the Company plans to replace me with a station helper, Jr, and let Nellie do my work during her lunch hour."
He had a deep interest in family and delved into genealogy.
George had a very special sense of humor and sensitivity that showed up in his poetry. We found this in his papers after his death. The following was published by a vanity press for our family. There were dozens of his poems in it. They were mostly about his love for Marguerite. I don't think it's available any more.
George was a bit of a poet in his later years. His daughter had his collection of poetry made up in a small book. Here's a sample:
MY BRIGHT RED JUMPSUIT by George Akard
I bought a bright red jumpsuit, the color's a little loud.
There's no doubt about it - makes you stand out in a crowd.
The shade is sort of fire engine red and it was just my luck
the first smart aleck that I met said, "Where'd you park your truck?"
A little old lady at the store - and she was just a funnin'
"You can't slip up on anyone cause they can hear you comin'."
I thought of giving it away - let someone else have fun,
but then again I can't do that cause I don't hate no one.
I guess I might as well keep it - the thought occurred to me
I should never be hit by a car unless the driver can't see.
He died at age 74 years 6 months 28 days.
Further notes:
George was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Besides membership in the "Blue Lodge", the basic membership, he took degrees in higher orders. The Council and the Commandry are the ones I remember though he might have had higher. He joined the Eastern Star, the women's version of the Masonic Lodge. The highest position in a chapter is Worthy Matron. She has a Worthy Patron beside her. George "Went through the chairs" as they say, to become Worthy Patron at least 3 times. Once with his wife and at least twice with her friends who's husband didn't want to do it. In the "Work" of the Blue Lodge is "The Middle Chamber" lecture. It is over 4000 words long. George was one of the few that would travel to other lodges to give this difficult lecture.
As a teenager, his family moved to Chattanooga, TN. He told a story about a bridge there. The Tennessee River passes through Chattanooga making a bend they call Moccasin Bend. One day, a friend dared George to climb to the top of a bridge across the river. It was an iron trestle bridge with rivets on the top of the "I" beam. George took off his shoes and shinnied up the "I" beam. When he sat on the top, traffic on the bridge stopped to look at him. Next thing you know, a Cop shows up and demands that he come down. He could see himself arriving home with the cop and explaining this to his parents. He knew a Razor Strapping was in his future if that happened. He told his friend to bring his shoes home. Then he dove into the river. He swam over to a log floating down stream. He hid behind it until it was around the Bend. It took him hours to walk home barefoot. He still got the Strapping though, his friend didn't bring his new shoes home.
by qashqai
Siblings:
John Louis "Jack" Akard 1907-1967
Leona Ann Akard Fulford 1911-1988
James Miller Akard 1912-1967
Dorothy Mary "Dot" Akard Epstein 1914-1985
Inscription
Both Masonic and Eastern Star Emblems are present. Married 7/5/1929
Gravesite Details
The location of this plot was accidentally placed outside the grounds of the cemetery. This was discovered when the owner next door went to put up a fence to keep his cows out of the graveyard.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
