Farewell, George

George Moore, friend and mentor to so many of us here at KDRT/Davis Media Access, passed away this morning. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Diane, his children and his extended family. Our community here is sad and rocked by thinking about a KDRT without George. I could tell you about George, who played show tunes, or jazz, or segments of historical Jewish radio. Or George, who helmed the KDRT Steering Committee and served on the Davis Media Access board of directors for several years. George, who opened his home for countless meetings, plodded through a rewrite of the DMA Bylaws with me, who helped me navigate ADA compliance for our new ramp at this building, who wrote policy, raised money, and vetted programming proposals. He did all of this, for years on end. He was a tireless advocate for KDRT, a fierce fighter when the chips were down, and a fun companion when it was time to celebrate. But I'd also like to tell you about George, my friend. I may have been treated to his sharp-tongued dialog from time to time, but I was also the beneficiary of a lot of his wisdom. Set George to talking about grammar and the downfall of literacy in today's culture, and he could go for hours. Ask him about his years as a teacher and you'd hear stories of kids that made a difference in his life, but little about the undeniable difference he must have made in theirs. Radio was a passion for George, not only because it allowed him to play little-heard but beloved music, but because it meant something real to this community. George once told me that "radio inscribes a bit of a community's soul" on the people who listen to it, and that's a piece of wisdom I'll carry with me always. Another was "just because I have to take things sitting down doesn't mean I'm complacent." This picture of a happy, smiling George is from July 4, 2010, when KDRT volunteers managed the beer concession at the City's celebration. It was George who handled all the permitting and was responsible for DMA being awarded the concession that year, George who stayed all day in hot weather to make sure it ran smoothly, and George who gave the beer seller hell when the lines clogged up with foam. Wherever your spirit is traveling George, I hope you'll remember to tune into 95.7 FM in Davis, CA--the little radio station that could, and does, in large part thanks to you. You will be missed.