Uncommonly fine large day” …..” what!!!!!!!!!! ” Those words echoed in the classroom of Ranger School whenever the great man started his lectures. If the students didn’t respond loud enough he’d hold his hand to his ear until they responded more enthusiastically. Wakes em up he’d say. They needed to be sharp to absorb the lessons of life and nature’s intricate web.
As a fellow instructor the students gave you the fuel to teach with, enthusiasm. Girv knew that. If they didn’t have it , it was a job, if they did, it was a joy. We’d say some days you should get paid double, others, you’d work for free. Girv taught nature’s lessons, I taught math…Ugh.
Girv ( MFRS 1980, second best class, but I’m biased ) came to the school as a field instructor in 1988 and I had the pleasure of working with him for the next 25 years. Girv was more than a great co-worker, he was my friend. We taught different disciplines but shared a love of nature and the school. Girv changed his office location many times during his tenure but regardless of the room, you could always find him, sit down and have a “say”.
You’d tap on the door and he’d be marking, always marking, and inquire “got a minute “. He’d put down his RED pen , slide back in his chair so far you would think he’d go on to the floor, and listen. He was a great listener. Many a person would lay out their problems and he may not always provide you life’s answers but when you left you felt he had. I would ask him for advice on how to communicate with this student or that he’d say sometimes all you have to do is listen and they’d figure it out for themselves. And many times they did.
He was a great partner to me when we worked together. I was more like the younger, sometimes annoying little brother, and he was the wise one. But that didn’t matter, we had so many good times. Sometimes after a lab we’d have a meeting of “the dead poets society” and discuss everything and anything. Many a time the words were greased with a little scotch. Sometimes Marie or Lou would call and remind us to come home. I sure do miss those times. So many good times.
I taught dendrology when Rudy Stocek retired and was scared #’?%less but Girv mentored me through it. He forgot more about trees than I will ever know. When Girv retired he came back on his own dime and co-taught labs with me. My gosh we had fun. That was the common theme with working with him. We sure had fun.
Girv did not like like praise, it made him uncomfortable. He’d just say ” thank you for your kind words” and change the subject to what you were doing. Girv’s extensive accomplishments have been listed elsewhere, but his greatest to me were his wisdom, humbleness, intelligence, and great listening skills.
Girv was a great family man, teacher, mentor, lover of nature, and…. great friend. I didn’t stay in touch with him much when I retired, something I will always regret, but life was better with him in it and I will never forget him. Thanks for everything Girv and wherever you are , thanks for listening.
Your friend always, Kenny Mcginn mfrs 86 ( best class ever)
