08/27/2026
GEORGE HOUDE: GRIFFIN
This is George Houde on the charge and at one of the three parties he went to during the years he played rugby.
In 1976 Griffin Member at Large Buzz Frank recruited George out of the Schlitz tournament in Milwaukee and George started playing for the Griffins in 1977.
Voted MVP on the Clubs first tour to Canada, he was also awarded the prestigious Griffins Griffin trophy in 1982.
A walk on football player at UW Milwaukee (where he also came to know about rugby) he graduated from there with a degree in Journalism which he puts to valuable use for the Griffins to this day as the author of its regular newsletter.
As a player George dabbled on the wing and came to understand forwards from a couple of games at ho**er before ultimately settling in as a halfback where he put his unique understanding of forwards to good effect by steering them around the park, turning them around at halftime and pointing them in the new direction of play. He was also very persuasive at trying to get referee's to change their decisions.
Outside of rugby George has led a colorful life as depicted in this podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lumberjack-lore-podcast/id1659098047?i=1000683084431
He is a well-respected, much loved and valued member of the Chicago Griffins Club, a consistent sideline supporter who often makes an effort to attend away games, and he also MC's the Club' annual fundraising Gala.
George likes Beer!
We all thank you for your decades of dedicated service to the Chicago Griffins RFC.
