By Deborah Larsen
George James Ennis
George James Ennis was born in Calumet, Michigan, on July 28, 1911, the son of Edward and Eliza James Ennis. George grew up in Rochester, where his family lived on East Third Street. He attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1931. After high school, George was employed by the Zimmerman Shoe Store in downtown Rochester for several years. In 1940, he took a job with R.H. Fyfe Shoe Store in Detroit.
In June 1941, George entered the U.S. Army. After training, he was assigned to the 822nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. In May 1943, he received his commission as a second lieutenant and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where he trained soldiers for overseas duty. While in Texas, George sent a photo to the Rochester Clarion, showing himself reading an issue of his hometown newspaper and remarking that he enjoyed keeping up on the news from home. In 1945, George was sent overseas and served in England, Germany, and Italy. He was discharged from the army at the rank of major in June 1946.
After the war, George returned to the retail shoe business. He owned and operated Ennis Shoes in Rochester and Detroit.
George James Ennis died at age 81 on July 12, 1993, and was laid to rest in Imlay City, Michigan.