The guy you didn't know, but should have.
Rarely, I post on the passing of someone on the blog.
But it isn’t often that someone who has impacted me in a way that warrants it. In 2010, it was my mother, and in 2019 it was Norm Hughes. Other honorable mentions have happened, though direct impact was not the reason for sharing my thoughts.
If you have ever used a video disc, you could thank George. Bought cheap CDs or DVDs? It was a pretty cool development that brother George developed in his optical plastics career, speeding up times and making the CD revolution happen. Your eyeglasses? It was his garage chemistry which made it so that you probably aren’t carrying around heavy glass any longer.
OK, he wasn’t my brother ..brother. But was a warrior. He was my brother in arms, and pushed me to get involved in areas I never had considered, and with positive results. He read this blog, and loved to read all of the authors, and had a few favorites.
George started with nothing. In fact if it is possible, he started with less than nothing. His childhood would have earned urgent visits from CPS if it were to exist today. While a roof over one’s head is good, going to bed with a glass of water next to the bed that would have a film of ice in the morning is not.
George powered through a sickly childhood, and earned his way through engineering and chemistry degrees. He added to all of this with an MBA, and became highly sought after by Union Carbide and Dow, and other firms that benefited from his expertise and management style.
His inventions came about under his own management and he managed to earn 40 patents that are used to this day as basis patents. And when the big guy GE tried to rip his fledgling start up off, he successfully fought them off.
George has been a big supporter of institutions such as Hillsdale, the Mackinac Center, and has provided incredible resources to those who fight for us like Judicial Watch, Pacific Legal, Project Veritas, and about a dozen others.
He left this world with Christ at the sunrise of this morning. My tears are plenty, but not for him, but for the world which will miss him, yet not even know it.
God speed my brother, my best friend and patriot among patriots.
Rest in Peace George, and put a good word in for me, OK?
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Beautiful and so true. A special person I was proud to call a friend. I cried when I read your tribute to your brother , I think of you as the son he never had. God bless, Carol
Jason, you cannot pick your family but that is not what a family necessarily makes. I understand your hurt as I have same family. I thank God every day that is shared with relationships similar to you, and George had, with those who care about us.
Just know you are loved, J-man.
God bless.
My deepest sympathy.
CS
I've been told that friends are family that we find while traveling on our path through life.
My condolences.
Brother George was a giant among men. Not just because he had a tall stature but because he had a great and magnanimous heart. A man with a brilliant mind who took the
lemons in his life and made a lemonade industry. George was also much in touch with the moral and political problems of our day and age. He was a constant rewarder of people and organizations that were fighting the good fight because it was a fight that he too shared and wanted to encourage by rewarding them. George's legacy of affirming mutual respect also built something that is in such short supply in our day and age - he built deeper and more meaningful relationships. George, Brother and Friend will be missed. Our deepest condolences to MaryAnn.
George made every contact special. My favorite encounter with him we talked about MENSA. He whipped out his card and I started laughing--shared a story with him about an attorney who had taken the test over the weekend. He saw my resume had MENSA on it and was upset that he didn't make the grade but a lowly temp sec. did. This guy played head games with me the rest of the day. Refused to return there and took MENSA off my resume. George was disappointed at this but understood. George didn't like public speaking, so he said. But, if you got him one on one, the hours passed with what seemed like minutes. And you're correct Jason about George pushing...but it was more like planting a seed so subtle you just did it--the ultimate teacher. Yes, he'll be missed, but taking comfort his meeting his maker...Can imagine his conversations being had with God--makes me smile.
Thanks for this Jason. It is a very apt description.