Terry Grafe
Some of you may have already read this on Facebook. But I thought it would be fitting to share here too.
When I was an 7th grade adolescent, I was choosing some of the wrong crowd to run with. I guess my dad recognized this and arranged for me to play with a son of a friend of his. I assume that the other boy needed a friend too.
The other boy and I hit it off because we had a common interest, which was riding BMX bikes. I don’t think my dad was that interested in supporting me in the sport and he knew that his friend was pretty involved in BMX. His friend was named George Holiday and the boy was his son, Shawn.
Today a mutual friend shared the sad news with me that George passed away about a week ago in Utah where he lived. So, I wanted to share a few things about George.
George was an amazing man who took me under his wing for the next two years after we met, until I botched up the friendship with his son Shawn. During that two-year period though, George was a mentor that hauled me around to many BMX races all over. He coached me and even once dealt with one of my bonehead decisions without sharing it with my parents. He loved me like his son and I trusted him.
George was also the funniest guy. I remember him goofing around trying to embarrass Shawn by turning his hat sideways, talking funny, and picking his nose. It worked.
George’s time spent with me was super important as it is to any young adolescent. He invested his time and that meant a ton to me. For me, George was one of those rare men that had a great impact on me. I will never forget him.
I think George was sad about what happened between me and his son. I later took responsibility for it and had a chance to ask Shawn for forgiveness. Shawn was graceful about it thankfully. But George was still good to me despite what I had done. While I was in college, George installed a used but expensive muffler at his shop Hy-Fy Muffler, on my car for free, knowing that I couldn’t afford a new one. I never asked for one. That is just the kind of guy he was.
My condolences go out to Marcie, Shawn, Christie, Debbie, and their spouses, and to all of their grandchildren.
Here is to you George! I think about you often and I thank God for who you were to me and to many others.
-Terry Grafe