 
George Wendel Dies at 72 |
D r. George D. Wendel, a well-known professor at Saint Louis University, died May 23 at Saint Louis University Hospital of complications following lung surgery. He was 72. Dr. Wendel was a professor of political science and public policy studies. He came to SLU as a graduate fellow in 1952 and had been a member of the faculty since 1956. In that time, he also had served as director of the University's Center for Urban Programs and co-founder of the National Council of University Institutes for Urban Affairs, now the Urban Affairs Association.
"George Wendel's commitment to his students, the University and the city of St. Louis was inspirational," said University President Lawrence Biondi, SJ. "He will long be remembered as an advocate of the community. His is a loss to all of St. Louis, but most especially to Saint Louis University."
Dr. Wendel co-authored Metropolitan Reform in St. Louis and contributed to St. Louis Currents: A Guide to the Region and Its Resources. He was an associate of the Governmental Studies program of the Brookings Institution from 1976 to 1983 and had participated in evaluative research on federal public service employment and community development block grant programs.
Dr. Wendel's urban activities included roles as special consultant on planning to the city of St. Louis and technical consultant to the St. Louis City and County Plan Commissions, the OEO Community Action Agency in St. Louis and the St. Louis Model City Agency. Dr. Wendel was the first chairman of the Regional Citizens' Forum of the Regional Council of Governments for the St. Louis metropolitan area. He also was the first chairman of the St. Louis County Supervisor's Committee on Neighborhood Preservation and Development. In 1978, he was appointed to a five-year term on the State Campaign Finance Review Commission.
Most recently, Dr. Wendel served as a research associate in two urban research projects undertaken at the State University of New York's Nelson D. Rockefeller Institute. The projects focus on life and socio-demographic data in working and middle class urban minority-majority neighborhoods in U.S. urban areas and an evaluation of the participation of East St. Louis in the federal empowerment initiative.
Dr. Wendel was past president of the Missouri Political Science Association and of Saint Louis University's chapter of the American Association of American University Professors. From 1964 to 1988, he served as political analyst for election coverage by KMOV-TV Channel 4.
A Chicago native, Dr. Wendel held a bachelor's degree from Loyola University of Chicago. He received his master's and doctor of philosophy degree from Saint Louis University. He is survived by his wife, Mary I. Wendel, and four sons.
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