George Barger was widely known in Maryland soccer circles as the father of four sons who were excellent soccer players: namely Greg, Joe, Tim and Mike. Greg and Joe are inductees in the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame. George played at Parkville High School in the late fifties and early sixties as a forward and halfback and later moved on to the University of Baltimore in the early sixties; where he played wing and halfback and earned All-Mason Dixon, All- South and All-American recognition. He also played in several Baltimore amateur leagues such as St Gerard’s, Italia SC, Luby Chevrolet and many other top-rated clubs for almost twenty years.
After UB, George took a job with National Brewery which would take him to Colorado and Arizona where he continued his amateur soccer career playing for local soccer clubs.
In 1974, George and his wife Mickey Jane, whom he had met at Parkville High School. She was not only his mate but also his soccer companion in life. They decided to move back to Maryland. Settling in Fallston where they raised a family of talented soccer players.
Up until his death, George and Mickey Jane were entrenched in the Fallston soccer community serving in many capacities including coaching, training, managing and advising.
For his contributions to soccer as a player, mentor and ambassador, George was elected to the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989.
His brethren in the Maryland soccer community, family and friends all acknowledge his presence and lifelong contribution to advancing soccer in Maryland will be sorely missed.
For all interested, A Celebration of Life will be held at Ryleigh’s Oyster 22 W. Padonia Road on Friday, July 16, 2021 from 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The George Pappy Barger Memorial Scholarship Fund 607 St Francis Road Towson, MD 21286.
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