George W. Cross (Missoula ’74)
Posted: September 08, 2026
George, 101, died September 7, 2026. He was born in Dewey, Oklahoma, in 1925 and grew up in Adair, Oklahoma, and Davenport, Iowa. After graduating from Indiana University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s, he moved to the University of Montana to teach P.E. and coach gymnastics. He was Dean of Students 1960-65, retiring in 1981.
George began working for the USFS during the summers in 1961. In 1974, he rookied at Missoula at age 47 and retired from smokejumping in 1985 at age 62. He jumped at Missoula 1974-78, 80, 81, 84, and 1985.
George served in WWII with the 82nd Airborne and was a member of the Montana National Guard 19th Special Forces for six years during the 1960s.
He is an NSA Life Member and was living in Buckeye, Arizona. George was featured in the July 2026 issue of Smokejumper magazine.
