The urgent call of the U.S. Navy and World War II took George far from his beloved woods and streams. From 1942 to 1945 he was stationed at San Diego Naval Training Camp, the San Diego Hospital Corps School, the Naval Hospital at Mare Island, the Physiotherapy Tech School and at the Naval Training Base in Farragut, Idaho. George was stationed at Puget Sound Naval Base in Seattle, Washington, and then to APA191 Troop Transport USS Pondera on which he participated in the landing on Okinawa. He went from there to China and to Pearl Harbor, the Philippine Islands and Guam. George served as Pharmacist Mate at St. Albans Naval Hospital in Long Island, New York.
While in the Navy Medical Department he met a chiropractor that was giving amazing physical restorative treatments to severely injured servicemen. Seeing the great help those injured men received caused George to vow to become a chiropractor.
George attended Texas Chiropractic College in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated with a D.C. degree in 1949 and a post graduate degree in 1950.
In June 1950, George opened his chiropractic office in Robstown, Texas. Within days of opening his office, George attended his first Texas State Chiropractic Association Convention.
In September of 1952, George married Jeanetter Rake. Jeanette immediately became active in the Texas State State Chiropractic Women’s Auxiliary. She served in many distract and state offices and was State President of the Women’s Auxiliary.
George and Jeanette attended every chiropractic convention together for 50 years with one exception. They missed the 1963 June convention for the birth of their son, Walter George, born on June 21st, George’s Birthday.
George served in local, district and state offices of the association, and served several times as convention chairman for the eventful Brownsville convention at which the State Association elected dual presidents, Dr. Roy Logan of Corpus Christi, and Dr. Mel Garrett of Waco.
In 1963 George was selected “Young Chiropractor of the Year.” In 2001 he was presented the Keeler Plaque. He has received 50-year memberships from both the Texas Chiropractic Association and the TCC Alumni Association.
George’s community activities have been in scouting, Lions Club and the Robstown Chamber of Commerce where he served as President. While serving as President of the Chamber, there was much discussion that Robstown needed a radio station, but no one thought it could be accomplished. George began researching the idea, and after several years of communication with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C., George was granted a license to construct a radio station in Robstown. The AM station signed on the air on February 22, 1963, and in 1967 and FM station was added. The two stations were operated by the Gossage’s until they were sold in 1993.
George served six years on the Board of the Robstown Independent School District during some of the turbulent days of busing and related problems. George’s office was picked and he and his family received death threats.
George has been a long-time member of Robstown Methodist Church. He served as President of the Methodist Men and President of the Friendship Sunday School Class. He served on the church’s Administrative Board and as Ecumenical Chairman. He also served on the Board of the Wesley Community Center.
George was critically injured in an automobile accident in 1990 and was told he would never be able to work again. However, after five months he returned to his office. He continued to practice until he retired in 2000.
On April 1, 2000, Dr. Jimmy Filla purchased the Gossage Chiropractic Clinic. Dr. Filla is enthusiastically caring for the chiropractic patients of South Texas, and he is devotedly caring for his mentor, George Gossage.
George feels very thankful for the chiropractic profession and the great chiropractors he has known throughout his life.
George is deeply grateful to the Keeler Plaque Committee for being honored by them on June 30, 2001.
