T. George Silcott ’52 Inducted into Beckett Hall of Alumni Achievers
By: Damon Markiewicz
T. George Silcott ’52 will be inducted into the Beckett Hall of Alumni Achievers during Homecoming Weekend, October 15-18. Silcott exemplified a life that was rooted in our Humanics philosophy, dedicated both to his career in social work and his personal life to serving others. His half-century of service to Springfield College was eclipsed only by his humanitarian contributions.
In 2003, in recognition for his sustained contributions to the College, Silcott received the Tarbell Medallion as part of the annual Springfield College Alumni Awards during Homecoming Weekend. Silcott served the College as corporator and later as a member of the Board of Trustees, during which he was chair of the ad hoc committee on enrollment management.
Silcott ventured into higher education, earning the title of associate professor of Social Work at New York University in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Group Work and Community Organization, Silcott completed his master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Connecticut (UConn) in 1961. He would later return to UConn as a faculty member, sharing his extensive practical experience in community organization, juvenile justice, and minority advocacy with the next generation of social workers.
Shortly before passing away in 2002, he received the American Civil Liberties Union’s Myron S. Isaacs Community Service Award. The honor was in recognition of being a longtime activist and tireless champion for social causes, especially helping with the needs of youth.
In addition, Silcott was honored by the New York State Assembly and the city of Los Angeles with the T. George Silcott Architecture and Design Exhibition Gallery. The gallery was dedicated to Silcott for being a devoted family man, leader, and social activist who committed his life’s work to the advancement of mankind.
Following his retirement from teaching, Silcott became a successful businessman in New York. With the help of the Rockefeller Foundation, Silcott helped create Urban Home Ownership, a nonprofit organization that renovated and managed abandoned, dilapidated tenements in Bedford Stuyvesant and Harlem, New York.
In 1991, Silcott established the Edwin C. Johnson Fund, honoring his mentor in the YMCA, to assist minority youth seeking education in social work. The scholarship supported marginalized students with financial needs in preparing for careers in service to humanity and with an interest in working with youth. At the time of his passing, the T. George Silcott Memorial Scholarship Fund was established at Springfield College.
In 1972, he became president of Urban Research Planning and Conference Center, a not-for-profit organization offering consultation in the areas of research, planning, and training.
National leaders and organizations sought Silcott’s expertise during his life. President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the National Advisory Committee to the Office of Juvenile Justice, and he was the first national chairperson of the National Association of Black Social Workers.
He served on the board of directors and executive committee of the National Conference on Social Welfare, and was a member of the House of Delegates of the Council on Social Work Education. He was also a fellow of the American Orthopsychiatric Association.
The life of Silcott reflects a lasting commitment to family, community, and service to others. Through his professional work and dedication to improving the lives of children and families, he contributed to a broader vision of care, opportunity, and human dignity.
Amazing alumni like this are proof of the power of a Springfield College education. Your support helps us continue preparing students to lead in service to others—true to our Humanics philosophy. Give today to support the next generation.
