George Lucas went to elementary school here. Nobody would play with him so he came up with brilliant stories to entertain himself (complete fabrication that explains a lot).

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George Lucas's father, George Walton Lucas Sr., managed a stationary store at this intersection called L.M. Morris Co.

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George Walton Lucas was born on May 14, 1944 in Modesto, California.

His father, George Walton Lucas, Sr., ran a stationery store and owned a small walnut orchard. His mother, Dorothy Ellinore Bomberger Lucas, came from a prominent Modesto family.

The family lived at this residence until they moved to a ranch house in the walnut grove north of Modesto. As a boy, Lucas loved comic books and TV serials of the 30s and 40s, including Flash Gordon.

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On June 12, 1962, then 17-year-old George Lucas was driving his Fiat Bianchina home to northern Modesto. His classmate, Frank Ferreira, attempted to pass him at a high speed and smashed into the small Fiat. The car flipped several times before crashing into a tree. Lucas was thrown from the car and survived with minor fractures and hemorrhaging lungs.

Lucas had wanted to be a race car driver up until that point, spending most of his 10th and 11th grade weekends cruising. The accident altered his perception.

"The accident made me more aware of myself and my feelings. I began to trust my instincts. I had the feeling that I should go to college, and I did," said Lucas.

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George Lucas attended high school at Thomas Downey High.

In his film American Graffiti, the high school is referred to as Dewey High. However, the actual high school scenes were shot at Petaluma High School in Petaluma, CA.

While attending high school, George was not a stellar student. Instead, he hoped to become a race car driver. His attitude shifted after being involved in a serious crash, and he decided to attend school at Modesto Junior College.

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