George Bennett, IPTAY director who had big impact on Clemson athletics, dies at 92

CLEMSON — Former Clemson IPTAY director George Bennett has died at age 92, the school announced on Dec. 13.

Bennett graduated from Clemson in 1955 and was an influential figure for many of the Tigers traditions, including the firing of the cannon after touchdowns at football games and giving out Clemson -themed $2 bills for road games.

He started his post-graduate career at Clemson in 1967 as an alumni field director before working for other schools and organizations, including Vanderbilt, Furman and Baptist Hospital, before returning to Clemson in 1993.

"No one epitomized 'a Clemson man' more than George Bennett," Clemson athletic director Graham Neff said in a school release. "Personally, George has been a good friend, mentor and supporter since I arrived at Clemson 12 years ago. His fingerprints have been all over Clemson and Clemson athletics for decades and he will be forever remembered."

With IPTAY, Clemson's fundraising arm, he held multiple positions, including assistant athletics director for business, executive director and executive secretary, spending 22 years with the organization. He helped IPTAY double its contributions and increase its membership and was part of the creation of the organization's endowment program and Tiger Cub program.

"He is a true Clemson man," Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney said Aug. 9. "People that have been around Clemson a long time know the impact that he's had. ... He's been a great, great ambassador for this university for a long time."

Bennett served two years in the Army after graduating from Clemson. He is a member of the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame and receved the distinguished service award from the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, he was married to Nancy, who has a master's degree from Clemson and was elected to City Council in Clemson in 1996. They had two children, Jeff and Bonnie.

No funeral arrangements have been announced.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at  dcarter@gannett.com  and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: George Bennett dies, IPTAY director had big impact on Clemson football