{{Short description|Governor-General of Solomon Islands from 1988 to 1994}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Sir | name = George Lepping | image = File:Sir George Gerea Dennis Lepping, the second Governor General of Solomon Islands, at Hibiscus Hotel in Honiara (June 1993).tif | alt = George Lepping at Hibiscus Hotel (later: King Solomon Hotel) in Honiara (June 1993), for the closure of Youth Challenge International's Project Solomon Islands 1993. | caption = George Lepping at Hibiscus Hotel (later: King Solomon Hotel) in Honiara (June 1993), for the closure of Youth Challenge International's Project Solomon Islands 1993. | honorific_suffix = GCMG MBE | office = 2nd Governor General of Solomon Islands | monarch = Elizabeth II | prime_minister = Ezekiel Alebua<br />Solomon Mamaloni<br />Sir Francis Billy Hilly | term_start = 7 July 1988 | term_end = 7 July 1994 | predecessor = Sir Baddeley Devesi | successor = Sir Moses Pitakaka | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1947|11|22}} | birth_place = Shortland Islands, British Solomon Islands | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2014|12|24|1947|11|22}} | death_place = Honiara, Solomon Islands | spouse = Margaret, Lady Lepping | children = 6 | alma_mater = }} '''Sir George Gerea Dennis Lepping''', GCMG MBE (22 November 1947 – 24 December 2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burkespeerage.com/FamilyHomepage.aspx?FID=8377 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720211607/http://www.burkespeerage.com/FamilyHomepage.aspx?FID=8377 |archive-date=2012-07-20 |access-date=24 August 2016 |publisher=Burke's Peerage (UK) Limited |website=Burke's Peerage |title=Preview Family Record: Lepping |quote=SIR GEORGE GERIA DENNIS LEPPING, GCMG (1988), MBE (1981) [Sir George Lepping GCMG MBE, PO Box 1431, Honiara, Solomon Is]; born 22 Nov 1947; educated St John's and St Peter's Primary Schs, King George VI Secondary Sch, ... |url-status=dead }}</ref> served as the second Governor-General of the Solomon Islands from 7 July 1988 to 7 July 1994.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000778b.htm | title=Lepping, George - Party - Solomon Islands Encyclopaedia, 1893-1978 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.archontology.org/nations/solomon_islands/00_1978_td_g.php | title=Solomon Islands: Governors-General: 1978-2023 - Archontology }}</ref><ref name="SIBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.sibconline.com.sb/late-sir-george-lepping-is-meritorious-statesman-pm-sogavare/|quote=He served as the second Governor-General of Solomon Islands from 7th July 1988 to 6th July 1994.|title=LATE SIR GEORGE LEPPING IS MERITORIOUS STATESMAN: PM SOGAVARE|website=Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation|date=31 December 2014|access-date=24 August 2016|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826110916/http://www.sibconline.com.sb/late-sir-george-lepping-is-meritorious-statesman-pm-sogavare/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lepping was a native of the Shortland Islands of Western Province.<ref name=wb>{{cite news|first=Tarcisius Tara |last=Kabutaulaka|title=Pacific Islands Stakeholder Participation in Development: Solomon Islands |url=http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/921981468777288988/pdf/multi-page.pdf#page28 |work=World Bank |date=September 1998 |access-date=2016-08-25|page=26|quote=Following independence in 1978, the post was held for two consecutive terms by Baddley Devesi, who comes from Guadalcanal. He was replaced by George Lepping from the Shortland Islands in the Western Province and the present Governor General, Moses Pitakaka, is from Choiseul Province.}}</ref>

==Biography==

Lepping was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1981 New Year Honours for contribution to "public service and sport.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=48474|date=30 December 1980|supp=8|page=53}}</ref>

He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1988.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=51472|date=16 September 1988 |page=10385}}</ref>

In March 2010, Sir George was appointed the Chairman of the 2012 Festival Pacific Arts Organising Committee.<ref name=solomonstar>{{cite news|first=Gina|last=Maka'a|title=Sir George to head festival committee|url=http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/4250-sir-george-to-head-festival-committee|work=Solomon Star|date=2010-03-26|access-date=2011-12-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616144855/http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/4250-sir-george-to-head-festival-committee|archive-date=2012-06-16}}</ref>

Up until his death, he was a chairman of the Eminent Persons Advisory Council (EPAC) of the Solomon Islands Government's Constitutional Reform Unit.<ref name="CRU"/>

He died at his residence in Honiara, was a Catholic and, in honour of him, a state funeral was held at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Honiara.<ref name="SIBC"/> He was laid to rest on his home island in the Shortland Islands.<ref name="CRU">{{cite web|url=http://www.sicr.gov.sb/Pressrelease_CRU%20pays%20tribute%20to%20Sir%20George.pdf|title=CRU Pays Tribute to EPAC Chairman|series=Press Release|date=24 December 2014|publisher=Solomon Islands Government. Constitutional Reform Unit|quote=The late Sir George was laid to rest on his home island in the Shortland Islands (Western Province), in which he was a Paramount chief and traditional leader.}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.sibconline.com.sb/late-sir-george-lepping-is-meritorious-statesman-pm-sogavare/ Obituary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826110916/http://www.sibconline.com.sb/late-sir-george-lepping-is-meritorious-statesman-pm-sogavare/ |date=26 August 2016 }} * {{Cite web | url=http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000778b.htm | title=Lepping, George | publisher=Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia | access-date=2024-04-17}} {{s-start}} {{succession box | title=Governor-General of the Solomon Islands | before=Sir Baddeley Devesi | after=Sir Moses Pitakaka | years=1988&ndash;1994}} {{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepping, George}} Category:Governors-general of Solomon Islands Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from the Western Province (Solomon Islands) Category:1947 births Category:2014 deaths Category:Solomon Islands knights

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