|
|
|
2006 Grand Marshal George Willard Rockey
George Rockey has been a faithful and devoted member of the Dublin community for the past 67 years. His father moved to Dublin from New Jersey at the age of 16 and his mother was a local girl from the Motson family. George was born March of 1939 in the farmhouse his family has owned since 1922. Though George has lived in Dublin his entire life, he has in fact moved twice: once to the east side of the house and then back to the west side of the house. Attending Dublin Elementary School through the 6th grade, George later graduated from North Harford High School in 1957. Growing up in Dublin, George has been involved in many community organizations and volunteer programs. He began his auspicious career in community service while a Boy Scout in Pack 301, which was then sponsored by the PTA. Achieving the rank of 1st Class Boy Scout, George was one of the first scouts to camp at Broad Creek. Since he couldn’t be a Boy Scout forever, George continued to work with the scouts through his job as a Forest Ranger, providing fire training and participating in the forestry program at the nature lodge for many years. Ever a man with a sense of duty, George served a 6-year stint as a Staff Sergeant with the National Guard. He was honorably discharged in 1965, which is when he began his career as a Forest Ranger with the Department of Natural Resources. Anyone who shaken the hand of Smokey the Bear, may have actually been shaking George’s hand as he frequently portrayed the bear during school functions, parades, hospital visits and even threw the first pitch at an Orioles game as Smokey. Fire prevention and education has been an important cause in George’s life. Though he retired in 2005, while with the State Forest Service George was the supervisor of the Fire Control Program. He frequently volunteered to fight wild fires in the western USA and is qualified to perform as a single resource person supply unit leader to this very day. In addition to fire fighting across the country as a member of the State Forest Service, George is also a member of the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company. During his 47 years of service, George has held just about every position except Fire Chief. His highest rank was Deputy Chief and he is currently a fire truck driver and ambulance driver. He has been named Ambulance Attendant of the Year, was inducted into the Harford Cecil Fireman’s Association Hall of Fame, has twice been named Fireman of the Year and frequently is a Top 10 Responder. During George’s long membership with the Dublin United Methodist Church, he has been a central figure in church related functions. He has served many positions within the church having taught Sunday School classes and been the Sunday School Superintendent. His strong tenor voice has graced the church as a 45 year member of the choir. He and his family opened their home to the church’s Christmas Caroling program for 30 years with George driving the carolers around in the back of his hay wagon. They also sponsored the annual Church Picnic, allowing his fellow brethren a dip in the pool during the hot days of summer. George currently resides in the very Dublin farmhouse he and his family has lived in since his birth. He and his wife Delores raised five children, Fred, Pat, Sue, Karen and Carole, each productive members of the community in their own right. He is a grandfather of thirteen and great-grandfather of ten. George may never move out of that farmhouse, but living in Dublin with a wonderful family and strong lifelong ties to our community, who can blame him? |
|
Send mail to
dublincountryfair@yahoo.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
