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President Jerred Golden’s Announcement to the Membership

On November 8, 2004, the directors of the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council met for our board meeting. Many issues were discussed but the most important agenda point was listed under new business. There was an action item for the board’s consideration to change to name of the Distinguish Service Award to the Dr. George Hamilton Distinguish Service Award.

This idea was born out of a desire to find a way to honor George for his unfailing support for PTC’s mission to advance the science of turfgrass management. But it turned out to be more than that, for as we all know, George represented so much more to us than his roll as professor and researcher. In the classroom he excelled at working with students, finding ways to motivate even the most reluctant student into setting the bar higher. He was a gifted teacher. As a researcher, he had incredible vision for innovation. His straight ahead approach to finding solutions for our day to day problems gave us practical solutions in the form of market ready inventions that have changed to way we grow turf. These traits alone would be enough to honor an individual but there was so much more to George.

I suspect that we will all remember George in a different way but everyone will remember him for his strength of character and his desire to make everything he did and everyone around him better. It is very possible to go through life and never meet a person like George but we were lucky having known him and our lives have been enriched for it. As George told us at last year’s convention with his moving speech, we have to live a full life. A life that honors our families and communities, as much as our jobs. One that is inspiring to those who look up to us and depend on us and to live our lives with passion.

I feel that George’s work on earth was not complete. He had so much more to give. Through his speech he has appointed us ambassadors to live our lives in such a manor that will celebrate the spirit that his passion represents.

So it was in that same spirit that the board of the PTC voted unanimously to change the name of the DSA to the Dr. George Hamilton DSA, for George truly lived his life in service to us all and when the award is presented in the future, we can remember a friend that has made all of us better professionals and better people.