George Charles Lessard was born on July 2, 1917, to Eugene and Josephine Elsie, nee Donahoe Lessard. Eugene was the overseer at the Woonsocket Spinning Company on Cass Avenue in Woonsocket, RI. The front lawn of this mill is where the new Woonsocket High School now stands. George was the first-born in the family. He attended St. Louis de Gonzague Elementary School and then attended Mt. St. Charles Academy but left before graduating to work in the mills. He started working at Woonsocket Spinning in 1934 under his father.
George's first child was born in September of 1943, and only a few weeks later he was inducted into the army. He served with distinction in the European Theater and received the Bronze Star with cluster and was discharged on September 30, 1945.
Upon his return he went back to work at the mill. Eventually he became a foreman in the mule-spinning department where he was well-liked by his workers. At the time the mill closed most of the spinners were women. The owners of the mill decided to move the operation to one of the Carolina's and George decided not to relocate, instead he easily found work at the Branch River Combing Company on Great Road in North Smithfield where he worked until they closed. After Branch River closed he found another job at the Bernat Mill in Uxbridge, MA. He retired when he was 66.
Submitted by his children: Paulette (Lessard) Tarmey, George A. Lessard, Paul L. Lessard and Marc R. Lessard