Former All-American Tinsley has impacted Polk County youth sports for 40 years on way to hall of fame

Posted by Admin June 12, 2024 Sports

Ray Beasock
| For The Ledger

George Tinsley’s storied athletic career has gained him entry into eight halls of fame across his lifetime.

On June 18, Tinsley will be inducted into his ninth when he joins five others as the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 as part of the Polk County All-Sports Awards. The ceremony will be held at the RP Funding Center.

This induction, however, isn’t for what he did himself, but instead for helping others find their way through athletics. Since moving to Florida and opening their first Kentucky Fried Chicken in Auburndale in 1984, George and his wife, Seretha, have been instrumental in helping youth sports across the county.

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“It’s been a lifelong love of mine to give back to the youth,” George said. “We sponsor a number of youth programs in the Polk area and beyond. We’re very proud of what we’ve been able to do and what we’ve been able to give back to the community.”

Tinsley grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and established himself as one of the top collegiate basketball players to ever play in the state.

While at Kentucky Wesleyan, Tinsley helped the team win three NCAA Division II national championships, was named a two-time All-American and the DII Most Outstanding Player in 1969.

Tinsley was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1969 NBA Draft, as well as by the Oakland Oaks of the ABA, and later played in the Continental Basketball Association.

When his playing career ended in 1972, Tinsley turned his efforts to coaching and teaching. That’s also when Tinsley began working at KFC as a training instructor, where he quickly rose to be a corporate executive.

For more than 40 years, the Tinsleys have built their business, Pengeo Inc., into a multimillion-dollar food service company.

George not only fed the community he was involved in, but he also never wavered in his belief of giving back.

“It’s not just about the dollars we put in, but the leadership we put in with it,” George said. “It’s one thing to sponsor as a part of marketing, but it’s also another to be actively involved in coaching and supporting the clinics. I’ve tried to do the total package as we’ve done it over the years.

“It’s not just about putting our names on the back of the jerseys, but mentoring the kids so they can be whoever they want to be. Sports will open the door for you to step in there and do your thing. I never aspired to be a business person, I just wanted to be a teacher and coach, but God had a bigger picture for me. As I left the school system and got into private sector it gave me more wingspan to be able to cover more areas.”

Tinsley is also a sought-after motivational speaker and has authored two books; the second, “Catch as Catch Can: Building a Legacy by Finding an Opportunity in Every Obstacle,” will release on July 30.

Tinsley has also served on many boards in the area, including Polk State College, 100 Black Men of America, various Chambers of Commerce, the Boys & Girls Club of Winter Haven and the Amateur Athletic Union.

“We’ve been involved with senior softball, youth basketball, sports in Auburndale, Winter Haven, Haines City for 30-plus years,” Tinsley said. “I can’t say there’s any one specific thing that we focus on, but I’m most proud of the relationships that we’ve developed in the community with young adults that have come up and gone on to do bigger and better things.”