Born in Achladokampos, Greece, in 1944, George D. Hiotis made his way to the United States in 1958 aboard the S.S. Queen Frederica at the age of 14, accompanied by his older brother. After the rest of his family joined them in America, George completed his education at Williams H. Wells High School in Chicago, Illinois.

Hiotis, known as “The Greek” by his fellow soldiers, served with distinction in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division – the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchu). Promoted to Sergeant, Hiotis served from July 1967 to July 1969, with deployments that included a year in Vietnam, 10 months in Germany, and brief stops in Japan, the Philippines, and Australia. His bravery was recognized with numerous military honors, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Following his honorable military service, Hiotis, along with his three brothers, opened Huck Finn Restaurant and Donuts in 1971. Over the years, they expanded to three locations, and the restaurants become beloved Chicago institutions, famous for their award-winning, classic donuts. For over 55 years, Hiotis has played an active role in the family business, serving as part-owner and overseeing operations as the President of Hiotikos, LTD and three other companies. In 1986, he co-founded the GARC Restaurant Cooperative, which helps independent restaurants achieve purchasing savings similar to national corporate chains.

In 1980, he married his wife, Linda (née Christides), and they adopted their daughter, Georgia Hiotis-Tagay in 1998.