Evening star., 1940-12-27
George ". 0ffutt, s.,
D. {. Civic Leader,
Dies Suddenly
Former President of
Boord of Trade Strie =,
By Heart Attack

known Washington lawyer, former
president of the Washington Board
of Trade and former chairman OF
the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board. died shortly after 8 am. to-
day at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Oswald Hayes, 1892 North Staf-
ford street, Arlington, Va.
His death was unexpected, al
though he had long suffered from a
heart ailment.
His wife, Mrs. Nora Offutt, and
four children were at the bedside
Besides Mrs. Hayes, Mr.. Offutt
leaves two other daughters, the
Misses Mary Gertrude and Nancy
Ray Offutt, and son, George w
Ofutt. III.
2 Mr.. Of1utt was practicing law
yer and was dean of the Southeast
ern University Law School.
A native of Washington. Mr.. Of
futt was born May 81, 1884, the son
of George w. and Mrs. Gertrude v.
Offutt. His father was a well-known
Georgetown banker.
Family Long in Maryland.
An old Maryland family. the
Offutts are descended from William
Of1utt, of what is now Great Falls,
Nd. whose land was held under
patent from the Crown of England
by the Lords Baltimore. His mother
was the former Gertrude v. Tribby
of Winchester, Va.
Mr.. Offutt spent his entire life in
Washington and was active in many
local civic and charitable enterprises.
He served as chairman OF the Traffic
Advisory Council here and was a
director of the local branch of the
American Automobile Association.
He also devoted much time to the
Community Chest and other agen-
cies. He was the author Of
much Of the Districts traffic legis-
lation, having written the so-called
safety y-responsibility" law, which is
In force in several States.
He was named chairman of the
city's A. B. c. Board February g.
1884, for four-year term and was
reappointed in 1888. He resigned
March "a, 1889. because of i'll health
and was succeeded by Thomas E.
Lodge. His service with the board
covered the date when repeal be-
came effective in Washington.
Mr.. Offutt was graduate of
Western High School, Princeton
University and the Harvard Law
School. which gave him the degree
of LII D. in 1909.
Once Urged for Commissioner.
In 1888 group OF citizens urged
the President to appoint him to the
Beard OF District Commissioners.
Mr.. Offutt was director of the
Potomac Savings Bank of George
town and second vice president of
the Realty Appraisal g. Title Co.
He also served on the Board of Gov
ernors of the Y. M. c. A. and was a
member OF the District and Ameri-
can Bar Associations. He belonged
to the Society of Natives, Washing
tonians, Columbia Historical Society
and the Georgetown Citizens Asso-
citation.
A Mason, he was a member of
Bethesda Lodge, Lafayette Chapter,
Royal Arch. His clubs included
Kiwanis, National Union, City and
Manor.
A. B. c. Board Expresses Regret.
Informed of his death today, mem
bers of the A. B. C. Board expressed
deep regret. A spokesman for the
group said:
Mr.. Offutt was named chairman
Of the board by the Commissioners
in 1884 and it fell to his lot to organ
ize the board under the act of Con-
gress. His task, though an arduous
one, was accomplished with dispatch
and courtesy to all He was highly
respected and admired by host of
friends"
Tentative plans for the funeral call
for services Monday at Dumbarton
Methodist Episcopal Church, George
town, with burial in Cedar Hill
Cemetery.