George Leslie Stout, born in Winterset, Iowa, on Oct. 5th 1897 and graduated from Winterset High School in 1915, became a legendary art conservationist who helped develop the modern scientific principles of art conservation. After two years at Grinnell College, he served overseas for two years in the US Medical Corps during WWI, then earned his bachelor’s degree and taught art at the University of Iowa before earning his master’s degree in art history at Harvard University. During WWII, he was called back into active duty in Europe, where he and a small troop of Monuments Men recovered millions of the world’s finest artworks stolen by the Nazis and hidden in salt mines, castles, and other remote areas. For his military service, he received the Bronze Star and the US Army Commendation Medal.