George Israel

George Matthew Israel III (February 10, 1948 – July 26, 2026) was an American politician and businessman. He was the president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and mayor of Macon, Georgia, from 1979 to 1987, the sixth largest city in the state. Israel was also on the board of directors of YKK Group. In 2005, Georgia Trend, a prominent state business and political magazine, named Israel as one of its top 20 leaders of the past 20 years.

Background George Matthew Israel III was born in Macon, Georgia, on February 10, 1948, to George and Margaret Israel. His father worked as an engineer at Robins Air Force Base and his mother was a teacher who helped veterans returning from World War II to earn their GEDs. He grew up in a tight-knit family with three brothers and an aunt whom he considered a second mother.

He met his wife, Pam Witherington, while working to pay his way through college, and they married in 1971. They have two children: Katie Beth and Matthew, four granddaughters, Greta (daughter of Katie Beth and her ex-husband Brian Layson), Kiya, Matilda "Tille”, Eleanor, and one grandson, George Matthew V "Quinn" (daughters and son of Matthew and his wife Kirstin).

Education and early career Israel attended Middle Georgia College in Cochran and the University of Georgia in Athens. However he never graduated and held no degree. He began his career as an underwriter for the life, health and accident insurance industry. He became a frequent critic of then Mayor Buck Melton.

At the end of his second term as mayor in 1987, Israel considered running for Governor of Georgia. However, Israel instead decided to return to the business sector. He has also served as chair of the Macon Chamber of Commerce and the Macon Economic Development Commission, and has also several other business and community leadership committees. He has been appointed to several state advisory boards including State of Georgia Commission on Privatization, the Georgia Military Affairs Committee and the Southern Growth Policies Board.

Death Israel died on July 26, 2026, at the age of 78.