George Rivers

RIVERS, George Edward, 83, a judge on the federal Employees' Compensation Appeals Board, died of complications from surgery Dec. 9 at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. He lived in the Washington area from 1955-2001 and retired to Nashville in 2001. Mr. Rivers worked at the Labor Department for 44 years, initially as an attorney for the Office of the Solicitor where he helped administer the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, which guarantees fair wages, based on prevailing local rates, to workers on public works projects such as the Interstate Highway System. He was appointed to the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board in 1976.A native of Gadsden, Ala., he served with the U.S. Army's 10th Ordnance Battalion during World War II, seeing action during the Battle of the Bulge. Following the war, he attended the University of Alabama and continued his education at Ole Miss, receiving his Law degree in 1950. During his retirement he continued his passion for gardening and playing piano. He is survived by Mary Ann, his wife of 57 years; four children, George Rivers Jr. of Boonsboro, Md., Georgiana Meeker of Schenectady, N.Y., David Rivers of Nashville, Jennifer Miller of Bradenton, Fla.; a sister, Evelyn McAlister, of Huntsville, Ala., and a brother, Charles, of Melbourne, Fla.; and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens. Visitation with the family will be Thursday 11 a.m until 1 p.m.
HARPETH HILLS FUNERAL HOME, 9090 HWY 100, 615 646-9292. www.harpethhills.com