[2] While studying at Hope College, Veenker was a multi-sport athlete winning varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track.

[2] During World War I, Veenker left Batavia to enter flight school in Texas, part of the "air service" branch of the U.S. military, and became a pilot.

[2] After World War I, Veenker was hired as a high school football coach in Hammond, Indiana.

[10] Veenker served under three head coaches at Michigan, Yost, Tad Wieman and Harry Kipke; all three have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

[15] When Veenker joined Iowa State, the school's football team was coming off a winless season in 1930 and had lost 16 consecutive games dating back to October 1929.

In his first year, the 1931 team defeated Missouri (20–0), Oklahoma (13–12), and Kansas State (7–6), compiled a 5–3 record and finished in second place in the Big Six Conference.

[10] After the victory over Iowa, one sports writer noted, "George Veenker deserves high praise.

[18] As athletic director, he appointed his assistant, James J. Yeager, as the school's new head football coach.

Veenker's overall record as the head football coach at Iowa State was 21 wins, 22 losses, and 8 ties.

[20] As athletic director, Veenker also supported the school's basketball teams led by coach Louis Menze.

The Iowa State basketball team won multiple conference championships under Menze while Veenker was the athletic director.

"[15][25] In June 1945, Veenker resigned from his position as Iowa State's athletic director, effective July 1, 1945.

[26] When he announced his retirement, the Ames Daily Tribune credited Veenker with expanding the campus recreation area from 23 acres (93,000 m2) to 460 acres (1.9 km2), improving the athletic department's financial condition, and developing the quality of the athletic teams "to the point that championships have been coming regularly.