Former State Representative From Montco Honored After Recent Passing

HARRISBURG — A former state legislator who spent more than three decades in public office was recently honored by his counterparts in the state House for his life of service.

George Saurman, who died last month at age 96, was the subject of a tribute paid by State Rep. Todd Stephens, a Montgomery County Republican, during remarks at the state capitol recently.

"I first met George when I interned in his legislative office as a college student," Stephens said in his remarks. "Seeing him interact with constituents and the passion he had to make the Commonwealth a better place to call home, left an indelible mark on me. The experience was so impactful I changed my college studies to government and ultimately sought to become a state representative like George."

Saurman died on Oct. 3 at ACTS at Fort Washington Estates, a retirement community in Montgomery County.

Saurman was a native of Houston, Texas who eventually moved to Pennsylvania and graduated from Upper Darby High School in Delaware County in 1943, and then went on to serve with the 65th Army Infantry Division in the European Theater in World War II, according to his obituary.

He graduated from Ursinus College in Montgomery County back in 1950.

Stephens said that Saurman spent roughly three decades as a public servant, serving as the mayor of Ambler Borough for 11 years and then as a local borough councilman for four years.

He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1980 and served as a legislator for the next 14 years.

In Harrisburg, Saurman served as chairman of the task force for the American Legislative Exchange Council in Washington, D.C. from 1986 to 1994, according to his obituary.

Saurman counted among his legislative accomplishments the introduction of stricter drunk-driving laws and the outlawing of live pigeon shoots in the Keystone State.

"The friendship I had with him was something I will always cherish," Stephens stated. "He was a mentor and someone who was always pushing me to be a better legislator and fight the good fight."

Saurman was active with the Ambler Kiwanis Club, the Ambler Chamber of Commerce, the American Cancer Society, the American Trauma Society, the Wissahickon School Authority, the Montco SAAC and Calvary United Methodist Church.

After he and his wife, Mary, moved to ACTS at Fort Washington Estates, he continued to lead an active lifestyle, enjoying activities and volunteering in various ways at the retirement facility, his obituary states.

During his retirement years, Saurman wrote and published three books — The Tale of Two Trees, We've Done Them Wrong, and Revisiting the Memories of Yesterday.

"Even in retirement, George never rested," Stephens stated. "He continued to be highly active in the community and authored three books during his lifetime. He is a shining example of how enriching a life of public service and community commitment can be."

At the time of his passing last month, Saurman was working to gather support to help improve and revise the reservation system for Native Americans, according to the obituary.

Saurman is survived by four married children and nine great-grandchildren.