George Bryan
MGA Hall of Fame 2022
George Bryan is a native of West Point, MS, and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1967. Mr. Bryan began his business career in 1964 at Bryan Foods, his family’s West Point-based manufacturing company, and was named President of the company in 1974; a position he held until 1983. He was named Senior Vice President of Sara Lee Foods in 1983 and continued in that role until 2001. Throughout his life, Mr. Bryan has had a tremendous impact on the sports world in Mississippi; none greater than the impact he has had on golf. In 1988, Mr. Bryan brought abundant growth to West Point when Old Waverly was opened. The club experience was elevated once again in 2016 with the opening of Mossy Oak Golf Club, located just across the street from Old Waverly. Brought to life by Gil Hanse, Mossy Oak Golf Club quickly became one of the most revered golf courses in all of the U.S. and was recognized in 2018 as one of Golfweek’s Top 100 Modern Golf Courses. In addition to the building of two championship golf courses, Mr. Bryan was instrumental in welcoming several National Championships into the Magnolia state including the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, ISPS Handa Cup, and the Southern Amateur. He has also served as a generous host to many collegiate events and has been a steadfast supporter of the Mississippi Golf Association and the Mississippi Junior Golf Association in hosting their amateur championships. Through the years, Mr. Bryan has received numerous awards including the AutoZone Liberty Bowl 2013 Harry E. Zinn Spirit of 1776 Award, 2000 Mississippi State’s Alumnus Award, 1999 Jackson Clarion-Ledger Sports Person of the Year Award, and the 1999 PGA Gulf Section’s Carpenter-Lindsay Award. Mr. Bryan also served as Chairman of the FedEx St. Jude Classic in 2010 and 2011. In 2015, with his wife, Mrs. Marcia Lavender by his side, Mr. Bryan received the Distinguished Service Award at the Mississippi Golf Association Centennial Celebration of the Mississippi State Amateur Championship.