Willett, George F., 1870-

George F. Willett (Aug. 7, 1870 - April,13, 1962 Walpole ) graduated Boston University in 1891 majoring in Industrial Chemistry; first in wool business, successively became the owner and operated Winslow & Co.; Winslow Bros. & Smith Co.; Willett, Sears & Co.; Roxbury Carpet Co.; The Industrial Service & Equipment Co. During World War I, Willett was executive secretary to General Goethals in Washington D.C. and on special assignment in the Offices of Secretary-of-War Baker in the Wilson Administration. All of his properties were finally lost to a group of banking interests when the Supreme Court reversed a verdict of 10.5 million dollars, awarded to Willett, Sears & Co., after the longest jury case ever tried in this country. Civic involvements in Norwood: Pioneer in Town planning and management ; Chairman, Planning Board and Committees for Civic Service; Founder, Civic Association (1913); Founder, Norwood Hospital Corporation, 1919; Founder, (and President), Norwood National Bank, later Norwood Trust Company, Founder, Norwood Housing Trust, controlling WESTOVER, Holmwood-on-Willett-Pond and other properties. "...credited with revamping Norwood from a small rough-cast industrial town into a model community along modern lines of civic betterment ..." ( quote from Tolles, B. F.: Norwood : The Centennial History of a Massachusetts Town, Town of Norwood, 1973.)