A native of Portland, George Yerkovich (January 4, 1914 – September 22, 1989), combined distinguished years of service in sports with a notable career in politics.
Yerkovich grew up in the Buckman neighborhood and attended Washington-Monroe High School, graduating in 1931, then Southern Oregon Normal (now Southern Oregon University). He played football, basketball and baseball through his school days. In college he won the Southern Oregon-Northern California Jack Dempsey Boxing Tournament light heavyweight championship.
After spending 20 years in the freight business, he gravitated to Portland City Hall where he served as City Auditor for twelve years, gaining a reputation for being tough but fair and open to working with anyone.
George's involvement in the world of sports continued alongside his careers. Yerkovich refereed basketball for 20 years, including 15 seasons in the Pacific-8 He was involved with the boxing, basketball, wrestling, and weightlifting programs at the Multnomah Athletic Club. He was also a charter member of the Oregon Sportswriters and Sportscasters. George also helped build Little League ball parks and coached youth basketball and baseball teams. For more than 25 years he was instrumental in athletic fundraising for Portland State.
Yerkovich's contributions to boxing probably are the most outstanding. He served as chairman of the World Boxing Association championship committee. He was one of only 31 men in the United States to serve on the executive board of the World Boxing Council. He was executive secretary of the Portland Municipal Boxing Commission and chairman of the March of Dimes Fight for Life boxing program.
At home, he helped start the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball program; was president of Wilshire Little League; Oregon Golden Gloves Boxing; Oregon's chapter of National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame and the Ex-Newsboys Association. George was also active with the American Cancer Society, the United Way, City of Hope and the American Heart Association.
George Yerkovich is also a member of the PIL Hall of Fame.