BATH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Most Mainers have never heard of George Dole, but this graduate of Bath High School (before it was called "Morse") won Olympic gold in 1908.
Dole was a Swedenborgian, who came to Maine when his father was called as rector of that denomination's church in Bath. George was an identical twin and without the markings on the back, it is impossible to tell the difference between he and brother Louis.
Todd Woofenden is Louis Dole's grandson. Due to his great uncle, Woofenden has developed a fascination in the life of the Doles. After the Olympics, George Dole became a commander on a World War I sub chaser. Woofenden's book, "Hunter of the Steel Sharks" talks about this fascinating and little known period in naval history.
The Doles were outstanding athletes and high achieving students. Both attended Yale their letters and accounts indicate they lived exemplary lives.
"The family story is that the brothers flipped a coin to see which would go to the Olympics. Louis won, but he got sick, so George went in his place," says Woofenden who notes they are not sure if the story is true.
George went to the London Olympics to wrestle at 132 pounds. He was the lone American against eleven Englishmen. No other country was represented.
He advanced through three preliminary bouts and won the best of three falls final in two bouts.
George also won four Interscholastic Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) championships and three Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) titles. The family record seems to indicate that he was undefeated in interscholastic.
George kept his relationship with Maine coming back most summers to hunt and fish. He had a heart attack and died in 1928 at the age of 43.
