“Along with many others at Vail Resorts, I was deeply saddened to learn of George’s passing. George was a leader who had an enormous impact on our sport, our mountains, and on me personally; showing me from the early days of my career what it means to lead with passion, embrace the sport we love, and never be afraid to take chances.
One of my favorite stories to tell is about skiing Vail’s Back Bowls with George. He took a hard fall that knocked his skis off and sent him flying. But just as quickly as he fell, George was back on his feet, dusting himself off and taking off down the mountain. I remember thinking then that’s exactly who George was, and who I wanted to be: resilient, optimistic, and always willing to push forward.
Above all else, George believed that how you treat people, guests and employees alike, is what matters most in business. Many skiers and riders may never know the full extent of George’s influence and impact, or just how much they have benefited from that philosophy.
George leaves behind an incredible legacy of vision, innovation, and leadership, as well as a generation of leaders who are grateful to have learned from him along the way.”