Eager, George 1921–

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Eager, George 1921–

(George B. Eager)

PERSONAL: Born April 4, 1921, in Valdosta, GA; son of William G. and Eugene (Johnston) Eager; married Laura Brownell, May 19, 1942; children: George Bruce Jr. (deceased), James B., Katharine Sherman, David W., Mary Margaret Castro, John Mark. Education: Attended Emory Junior College, 1936–37; Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S., 1942.

ADDRESSES: Home—Valdosta, GA. Office—The Mailbox Club, 404 Eager Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602.

CAREER: Writer, farmer, and educator. Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, assistant professor, 1945; Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Co., Birmingham, AL, sales engineer, 1945–46; Eager Hereford Farm, Valdosta, GA, owner, 1946–; Mailbox Club, Inc., Valdosta, GA, founder and director, 1965–; writer, 1965–. Military service: U.S. Navy, anti-aircraft officer, 1942–45; became lieutenant; received thirteen Battle Stars.

WRITINGS:

YOUNG-ADULT BOOKS

How to Succeed in Winning Children to Christ, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1979.

Why Wait 'til Marriage?, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1979.

Love and Dating, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1980.

Wake up, World! Jesus Is Coming Soon!, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1980.

Teen Talk, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1981.

The New Life in Christ, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1987.

Love, Dating, and Sex, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1987.

Love, Dating, and Marriage, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1987.

Teen Talk I, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1987.

Understanding Your Sex Drive, illustrated by Diana Philbrook, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1994.

All about Peer Pressure, illustrated by Diana Philbrook, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1994.

Love and Dating, illustrated by Diana Philbrook, Mailbox Club Books (Valdosta, GA), 1994.

Also author of six Bible correspondence course lessons. Author of Love, Dating, and Marriage (quarterly periodical), Mailbox Club, 1987; editor of Teen Talk (quarterly periodical), Mailbox Club, 1965–79.

SIDELIGHTS: George Eager is the founder, with his wife, Laura, of the Mailbox Club, a mail-based correspondence club that brings Bible lessons and related material to children, teenagers, and adults throughout the world. The club originated with the Eagers' work with young people in rural areas throughout Florida, Georgia, and Alabama in the late 1950s. Their school assembly programs reached numerous young people, but they saw that many in their audience had no way to continue their Bible studies afterward. To meet this need, the Eagers developed additional lessons that could be mailed to students in rural areas. The students would read the materials, then fill out a page of questions. They would then mail the questions back for a graded response and the next lesson. This format soon expanded to include lessons for teenagers and adults.

Eager is also the author of numerous inspirational books of advice for teens and young adults. His books stem from biblical teachings, and all offer practical wisdom on a variety of personal and social issues facing young people. All about Peer Pressure and Love and Dating, for example, look at the stresses young people face in remaining socially active and maintaining the acceptance of their peers. Eager stresses simple abstinence from certain activities young people are often pressured into, including smoking, taking drugs, and drinking. He also encourages respectful interactions between dating couples and calls for abstinence from sex until marriage. Eager also points out the great worth of each individual, and he makes it clear that those who truly value someone will not force him or her into potentially harmful acts or behaviors. Booklist reviewer Frances Brad-burn called the material contained in Eager's books "excellent, if admitted old-fashioned, advice."

Eager told CA: "After World War II, I was working as a sales engineer for Westinghouse in Birmingham when my father died. I came back to our home place in Valdosta and began operating it as a cattle farm. I loved it! I was thoroughly engrossed in acquiring more land, a better herd of cattle, etc., when our oldest son, Bruce—age 7, was killed in an accident on the farm. As a result of this, I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Several years later, I became interested in working with children and young people. In 1965 I began writing Bible correspondence lessons for children, teenagers, and adults. The Mailbox Club lessons are now going into over one hundred countries and have been translated into over ninety languages. I still enjoy farming but it is now limited for the most part to a one-half-acre garden!

"To young people, I would say two things. First, save sex for marriage! Your virginity is the one priceless gift that lasts a lifetime. It is the greatest gift you can give your mate on your wedding night. Laura and I were both virgins when we married. We have been married now for sixty-four years, and we are still madly in love with each other.

"Second, get acquainted with Jesus Christ. Nobody knows you better and nobody loves you more. My wife and I came to know Him following the death of Brucie. He changed our lives completely. It seems a simple thing to say, but all blessing and joy and happiness come from the knowledge of God."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, June 1, 1994, Frances Bradburn, review of All about Peer Pressure, p. 1791; June 1, 1994, Frances Bradburn, review of Love and Dating, p. 1791.

School Library Journal, July, 1994, Dona Weisman, review of All about Peer Pressure, p. 122.

Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 1994, review of All about Peer Pressure, p. 297.

Wilson Library Bulletin, May, 1995, Cathi Dunn MacRae, reviews of Love and Dating, Understanding Your Sex Drive, and All about Peer Pressure, p. 104.