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George Greenfield, a gymnast on the U.S. Olympic Team for the 1972 Summer games in Munich, holds a photo of himself at his home on Lady’s Island. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
MIKE MCCOMBS
Farewell ‘Uncle Bobby’
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BEAUFORT ne of the best is no longer with us. Actor Robert Duval died at his farm in Middleburg, Va., on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, according to a statement released Monday by his wife of more than 21 years, Luciana Pedraza. She did not disclose a cause of death. Duvall was Robert 95 years old. By Duval all accounts, his career in film and television, which spanned more than 60 years, is one of the best of all-time. From his lineless debut as a 31-year-old in 1962’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” to the Netflix films “Hustle” and “The Pale Blue Eye” in 2022, few have the film resume of Duvall. After Mockingbird, his films include, just to name a few, “Bullitt,” “True Grit,” “M*A*S*H,” “THX 1138,” “Joe Kidd,” “The Godfather,” “The Godfather, Part II”, “The Conversation,” “Network,” “Apocalypse Now,” “True Confessions,” “Tender Mercies,” — for which he won the Best Actor Oscar — “The Natural,” “Colors,” “Days of Thunder,” “Falling Down,” “Rambling Rose,” “The Paper,” Sling Blade,” “Deep Impact,” “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Open Range,” “Crazy Heart,” … you get the picture. Despite all those iconic movie roles, his favorite role was in a TV miniseries. In 1989, Duvall portrayed Captain Augustus “Gus” McRae in the miniseries “Lonesome Dove,” an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Larry McMurtry. He won a Golden Globe Award and earned an Emmy nomination for the role.
‘The most exciting environment in the world’
Beaufort resident remembers his Olympic experience as 2026 Winter Games continue By Luke Frazier Special to The Island News
George recalls, “and then you get to the place they designated for you to stand for the next two hours.” eorge Greenfield sits The ceremonies included the comfortably in his Lady’s Olympic pledge, the lighting of Island home overlooking a the torch, and plenty of pomp and pond where blue herons visit daily circumstance. There was absolutely as he thinks back to the warm day of Aug. 26, 1972. He was one of the no other place on earth he would rather have been that day. 400 U.S. athletes marching into “It was just the most exciting the Olympiastadion in Munich environment in the world,” Greenfor opening ceremonies of that field said, “and one of the reasons summer’s Olympics. He remembers wearing a wide tie the Olympics is so big is that it’s of red, white, and blue (as early 70s the only venue that brings all the sports together.” fashion dictated) and pair of black Greenfield also shares some and white patent leather shoes as memorabilia from the day: the part of his outfit. Olympic ring belt buckle, now “It took about two hours to get into the stadium just to do the lap,” smartly mounted on marble, and
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the captivating commemorative ruby ring. Greenfield is among the tiny percentage of U.S. male gymnasts who ever make it to the Olympics, and he knew he was going to go to Munich after sticking the landing in his final horizontal bar routine at the men’s trials two months before. He said that feeling was incredible, and the video from the broadcast on ABC’s Wide World of Sports program he shares 54 years later confirms both the perfect landing and the huge smile on his face. His Olympic journey began in earnest four years before that on
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Former Beaufort Elementary principal Summerlin dies at 76 2000 National Principal of Year was honored by President Clinton, attended State of the Union
By Delayna Earley The Island News Beaufort — Ruth (Stanley) Summerlin, the former Beaufort Elementary School principal whose leadership transformed
one of South Carolina’s lowestperforming schools into a National Blue Ribbon campus and earned her national recognition from President Bill Clinton, has died. She was 76.
Summerlin passed away peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 24, 2026, in Gainesville, Ga., after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, according to her family. For many in Beaufort County,
Summerlin’s name is synonymous with one of the most dramatic school turnarounds in local education history.
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Ruth (Stanley) Summerlin
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Bay Street reopens at intersection with Charles Street.
USCB Artist in Residence to lead public workshops Feb. 27-28.
Whale Branch names Dee Delaney head football coach.
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