George P Toma
2023
George is of Ukrainian heritage with a storied career as a groundkeeper for the NFL Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup and more. The Sugar Creek Slavic Festival was proud to induct George Toma - the “Sultan of Sod” - into the North American Slavic Hall of Fame in 2023.
George Toma, was born, February 2, 1929 to George and Mary Toma in Edwardsville, PA, who shared their Ukrainian heritage and wonderful Slavic foods like kielbasa, pierogies, pagach, borscht, pigs in blankets (cabbage rolls) and cabbage and mushroom soup.
At the age of 12, he began working on a farm and later started his groundskeeping career with the Wilkes Barre Barons, a farm team for the Cleveland Indians. George was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Korean War as a Sergeant First Class in the 105h Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.
Following his military service, George became the groundskeeper for the Buffalo Bisons, a AAA farm team for the Detroit Tigers in 1955, and in 1957, he became groundskeeper for the Kansas City Athletics.
In 1963, he became the groundskeeper for the Kansas City Chiefs, and in 1966 he was chosen to prepare the playing field for the first Super Bowl, a role he continued through 57 Super Bowls, and 37 Pro Bowl games, in addition to serving as a natural and artificial turf consultant for National Football League.
In 1984 and 1996, George supervised field preparation for the International Olympic Games, and in 1994 he prepared all nine venues for the FIFA World Cup.
George has been featured in movies, commercials, major publications and received countless accolades and honors, including the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the John Madden All-Madden Team, the Major League Baseball Groundskeepers Hall of Fame, and the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.
World class athletes have given George respect and he has earned various titles including the “Sodfather”, “Sultan of Sod”, “God of Sod” and more.
In his book "The Sodfather" George describes his family's Slavic heritage. "As far back as we can trace my family lineage, they came from Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Belgrade and either Bulgaria or Romania."
He also said , "I have been inducted into eight Hall of Fames, most recently the North American Slavic Hall of Fame. I'm as proud as that honor as any I have received."
George P Toma is an outstanding representative of the Slavic Community and we are proud to induct him into the North American Slavic Hall of Fame in 2023.
