Mr. Lilly received his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Boston University in 1956. From 1957 - 1959 he served as Producer and Director at the Educational Television Center, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, from 1959 - 1961 as a television technician at WCVB-TV in Boston, MA and from 1961-1969 as a Salesman, General Sales Manager and Station Manager at WGME-TV, Portland, ME. From 1969-1980 he served as General Sales Manager and Station Manager at WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY and from 1980 - 1983 was Vice President of Television Operations for Park Broadcasting, Inc.

In 1983, the SJL Television Group was founded by George D. Lilly and TA Communications, Boston, MA to build a group of network television stations. In 1996 George Lilly dissolved his partnership with TA Communications and founded SJL Communications, L.P., a privately owned company, to build a group of network television stations whose primary focus is to serve the needs of the communities, while delivering above average returns to its investors.

Mr. Lilly is past president of Alpha Epsilon Rho, the national radio and television honorary fraternity, a trustee of the SJL Foundation, a member of the Dean’s Council Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UCSB, and a commander in The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. He has received the Boston University Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to Profession, the coveted Alan Weaver Hazelton Award from The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, and has been recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General for his efforts to improve organ and tissue donor awareness through the broadcast media.