WHO IS GEORGE STANCIL? A Member Profile

His father named him George Herman, for Babe Ruth, but life threw him a curve that landed him in fields far from baseball.
Photo by Max LeFevre

A veteran of 20 years in the US Air Force, George joined Eastman Kodak in the 1970s and became an expert technician on satellite photography, travelling all over the world to help set up the photo processing labs needed by the aerospace industry.  A letter of commendation from the Strategic Air Command cites his contribution to critical missions within the national defense program.

After retirement and several years of Florida fishing,  joining Flotilla 96 was George’s first venture into the Coast Guard Auxiliary.  The year was 1984 and the recruiter was Betty Riddle’s husband, Tom.  Betty was one of his first flotilla commanders.  After years serving in other flotillas from Florida and Massachusetts, he’s now back to his roots in Flotilla 96.

At 81, George is no wimp.  He continues to inspect commercial fishing vessels-- climbing ladders, squeezing into engine rooms, checking bilge pumps, counting life jackets, schmoozing with the captains, and making life safer for the folks who earn their living on the water.  A fall from a greasy ladder earned him eight stitches, and he’s still at it.

An award presented to George at one of our Flotilla meetings in 2010 says he “eagerly tackled” the challenge of conducting 270 exams for commercial fishing vessels and uninspected passenger vessels from St. Petersburg south to Fort Myers Beach, saving the Coast Guard thousands of dollars in travel and administrative costs.  The man who came here to make the presentation was retired Coast Guard Captain Larry Yarboro, one of George’s many fans on the gold side.

From 1994 to 2000, George served more than 800 hours underway on forty-one footers from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, including more than 80 separate Search and Rescue missions.  After three years aboard the MARLIN, he has some stories to tell.

Offshore about 60 miles, he says, the Marlin found a boat with 32 starving illegals and took them aboard.  Accustomed to feeding nine crewmembers, the cook was soon overwhelmed.  The only one with enough experience to help in the galley turned out to be the Marlin’s Commander, Lt. Sandra Fox, who promptly put her executive officer in charge of the vessel and went below to lend a hand.  George says she was a great favorite with the crew, affectionately known as Foxy.

Honored by Academy Superintendent Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe

In spite of thousands of hours on the water,  George’s real passion is on dry land:  it’s The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.  Every summer he spends a week there with a class of potential cadets who are taking part in the AIM program, Academy Introductory Mission, doing whatever it takes to make the recruiting effort a success.  He counsels, cajoles, meets midnight flights to pick up latecomers, and stays on call 24 hours.  Many of the young people are there through his own efforts and those of other Coast Guard Auxiliarists.  His day begins early and his last meeting is at 2100.  It’s a tough week but he’s always ready to do it again.

George says he plans to continue his recruiting activities, which include visits to schools and colleges, speeches about Coast Guard careers, manning recruiting booths at fairs and other public events, and representing the Coast Guard on as many occasions as possible.  He will continue to add to his lifetime total of almost 900 vessel examinations, both commercial and recreational.

After 26 years in the Auxiliary and twenty Sustained Service Awards for 750 hours each, George recently requalified for crewmember and is taking an active role with Flotilla 96.                                                            Photo by Michael DiPierro