Physical therapist George McCluskey Jr. dies at 87

George McCluskey Jr., a pioneer in the field of physical therapy, died Saturday at 87.

On Sunday, his son, Brian McCluskey, said his father would like to be best remembered as a “family man and business man.”

“Family always came first,” he said.

A funeral service will be held at St. Luke United Methodist Church on Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. with the family receiving guests afterward. A private burial will follow.

An Auburn University graduate, McCluskey is a member of the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame.

A lifelong resident of Columbus, he played football at Columbus High School where he would later be a coach. He also played some football at Middle Georgia College.

After graduating from the Baylor University physical therapy school, he opened his business Rehabiltation Services as a one-man operation in 1955.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jack C. Hughston was a believer in physical therapy services for his patients. McCluskey and Hughston worked closely together for many years.

In 1970, McCluskey’s company was the second privately owned rehabilitation practice in the country to incorporate.

It would grow to more than 300 employees and its service area covered four states. Many physical therapists received training under McCluskey. The company later changed its name to Human Performance and Rehabilitation Services.

McCluskey, who served at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, was a charter member of the Board of Physical Therapy in Georgia and the Institute of Athletic Health Care & Research.

In 1997, he was named as national small business person of the year.

He is survived by his wife, Frances, three sons George McCluskey III, Leland McCluskey and Brian McCluskey and a daughter Susan Graham. There are 12 grandchildren.

This story was originally published August 7, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Physical therapist George McCluskey Jr. dies at 87."