George was a 2nd Deputy Chief Fire Instructor at the Nassau County Fire Academy. In the first Ropes Course I took, George was the Instructor. We were up on the tower repelling. He could tell I was a bit shaky with heights. He also knew my partner at work was a member of his Vol FD. Once he got me over the edge, he began to tell me a story of how one night, while battling a working fire with his FD, during overhaul pulling ceilings, he was struck in the mouth knocking out his dentures. He went to the window and found Bill and handed him his teeth to hold. George went back to pulling ceilings and the next thing I knew I was down on the safety net. After that, my confidence was boosted. George was rough, but a great instructor.
