George S. Osborne, PhD

CHARLOTTE, NC — The Larry Mauldin Award for Excellence in Education, sponsored by Beltone Electronics, honored the late George Osborne, PhD, DDS, at the AudiologyNOW! Convention.  

“His extraordinary contributions to audiology education in the hearing care industry are profound,” says Beltone President Todd Murray. “He was an experienced professional and a dedicated educator who worked hard to promote the profession and ensure that audiologists would achieve recognition with other health professionals.”

The Mauldin Award was created to honor the accomplishments of the late Larry Mauldin, especially for his work and commitment to education in the field of audiology. Presented since 1999, the award is given to an industry leader committed to continuing education and unselfishly giving back to the profession, the community and the hearing impaired. The recipient of this special honor is nominated and selected by industry peers, and Beltone sponsors the award. Cydney Fox, one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the award in memory of Mauldin, noted that the event marked the 10th anniversary of the award and, in that time, the award has become known as an esteemed and unique tribute to distinguished people in the hearing care field.

Accepting the Larry Mauldin Award on behalf of George Osborne, PhD, were Osborne's wife, Joan, and daughter, Tonya Delborne, from Beltone Director of Education Ken Laferle.

Dr Osborne, PhD, DDS, was a driving force in founding the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) School of Audiology where he also served as the School’s dean. His curriculum set the standard not just for the PCO School of Audiology, but for the entire profession. In May of last year, Dr. Osborne presided over the graduation of the school’s first class of residential students. He was also a pioneer in the field of audiology. He was a co-founder and director of the American Academy of Audiology and the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education. He was also co-founder and past chair of the Audiology Foundation of American, and founder and past president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology.

In his commitment to educate audiologists, he created the AuDonline distance education program, which is a comprehensive program designed as a bridge for a licensed, practicing audiologist to earn the AuD.  By the year 2010, the program will have awarded more than 2,000 AuD degrees. The first PCO Audiology graduates of the AuDonline program established the George S. Osborne Audiology Scholarship Fund in 2001 to honor Dr Osborne. PCO announced that it will rename its school of audiology the George S. Osborne College of Audiology.

Tonya Delborne, Osborne's daughter, presented a moving tribute to her father at the award ceremony. Known as “Papa” to his family, Osborne played a large role in the life of his granddaughter. Upon learning that PCO's school of audiology had been renamed in her grandfather's honor, his granddaughter thought it would be named “The Papa College of Audiology.” Delborne said that her father pushed the limits of the field and was extremely dedicated to the people he served. He spent a lot of time with his students, and always called them upon the completion of the comprehensive exams. In one case, he flew his plane to Milwaukee in order to present an ailing student who was dying of cancer with a diploma, cap, and gown.

Osborne is survived by his wife, Joan, his son, Brian; daughter-in-law, Karen; daughter, Tonya Delborne; son-in-law, Jason Delborne; and four granddaughters.

Founded in 1940, Chicago-based Beltone Electronics is part of the GN Hearing Care Group, utilizing advanced technology to produce hearing instruments sold in the United States, Canada and over 40 countries worldwide. In addition to providing service and support for its U.S. hearing care network operating in over 1,400 offices in North America, Beltone remains the most trusted brand for quality products and care among its patients and adults aged 50 and older.

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