Lt. Col. (Retired) George D. Brennan II

Lt. Col. (Retired) George D. Brennan II graduated from Lehighton Area High School in 1957 and then went to the University of Notre Dame where he received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1961. He entered Marine Officer Candidate School in October of 1961 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in December of 1961. His early assignments in the Marine Corps included duty at Kanehoe Bay in Hawaii as a Rifle Platoon Commander/Executive Officer, in Okinawa, Japan as Training/Executive Officer and in San Diego in the Weapons Training Battalion. In 1968, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School and after one year’s studies, graduated with a master’s degree in Financial Management. In 1969-1970, he served a tour in Viet Nam with the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. In the fall of 1970, he was assigned to the United States Naval Academy as an instructor in the Naval Command and Management Department. After four years at the Naval Academy, he returned to Okinawa where he served a one-year tour as an Operations and Training Officer at the 3rd Marine Division. He then was assigned to the staff at the Marine Corps Headquarters in the Pentagon for a three-year tour. From September 1978 through June 1980, he returned to Okinawa as the Executive Officer in the 3rd Marine Division, 9th Marine Regiment and then the Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. In June 1980, he returned to the Marine Corps Headquarters in the Pentagon where he served until his retirement in January of 1982.

After retirement, Georga and his wife, Mary, purchased a farm near Easton, Maryland. He and his wife completely immersed themselves in their new life as the owner of an outdoor power equipment company, Rio Del Mar Enterprises, and as a selector and breeder of Poled Hereford cattle. George was a Registered Poled Hereford Cattle Businessman for 40 years and oversaw one of the largest Poled Hereford operations in the state of Maryland. He was an active supporter of the Eastern Shore Grain and Cattle Farmers, the Marine Corps Association and the National Poled Hereford Society. He was well known and respected for his support of Easton High School and the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School and Church. He was recognized by the Maryland Poled Hereford Association for his support of the Future Farmers of America, support which included donations toward college scholarships and helping young, future farmers with donations of their first Hereford to raise and show. Further recognition came for George when he was named in 2013 to the Maryland Hereford Association Hall of Fame.

Lt. Col. (Ret) George Brennan passed away on June 26, 2022. His wife Mary preceded him and passed away in 2012. George and Mary are survived by four children – Michael, Mary Catherine, Elizabeth Ann, and Ann Marie and ten grandchildren.