By HANNAH DUNN-GRANDPRE – Variety Editor
After being unemployed for two years, Clarke Central High School custodian, George Blaylock’s life has changed drastically since he began working at CCHS last year.
It’s close to midnight and pitch-black outside except for the headlights of passing cars on Highway 78. Clarke Central High School custodian George Blaylock continues down the highway to his home in Lexington, Ga., over 20 miles away, on his bike.
Mr. George works as a night-shift custodian at CCHS and usually leaves the school at 10:30 p.m. to make his three-hour ride home.
“Sometimes I (wouldn’t) get into bed (until) probably about 1:30 in the morning and I (would) get back up at 4:30 or 5:30 in the morning because I (had) to catch a ride back to Athens,” Mr. George said.
On days he is able, Mr. George attends morning classes at Classic City High School in an effort to obtain his General Education Diploma.
“The motivation behind (getting my GED) is what I know I needed: education. Because, the fact is, I didn’t get enough when I was in school, I couldn’t at the time,” Mr. George said.
Growing up, Mr. George lived in Augusta, GA. At the age of nine, his mother passed away and afterward he lived with his brother. Mr. George was unable to finish high school during his senior year because he was focused to find work and compensate for a pinched wallet.
“(Growing up without my mom) made me grow faster and appreciate things more quicker than normal. I don’t take (anything) for granted,” Mr. George said. “It was kind of like I didn’t have a normal childhood, like everybody goes to dances and football games and I was trying to work and survive.”
During his twenties, he worked at both a flooring company and a poultry plant in addition to other odd jobs. Mr. George was then employed temporarily at Louisiana Pacific, a company that produces building materials, where he continued to work for nearly 13 years.
“I was working (at Louisiana Pacific) over 12 years. After I got there I started working good and people started recognizing my work and (I was) made employee of the month there two or three times.”
Courtesy of George Blaylock
The plant Mr. George worked at was shut down in Oct. 2008, leaving him unemployed for two years.
“I started downsizing all my bills and stuff. I don’t have (any) pleasure bills, just everything I got to have. I do not mess up money, I don’t have money to mess up,” Mr. George said.
After looking online and submitting his resume, Mr. George was hired at the Clarke County School District Board of Education office where he went through training and was then assigned to work at CCHS.
Mr. George’s job at CCHS has benefited him tremendously. Along with ending his unemployment, he has also lost about 80 pounds from commuting on his bike every day. Mr. George is able to look past difficulties to his friends and coworkers for support.
“It’s been like a roller coaster, up and down, up and down. I got my real highs and I got my real lows,” Mr. George said. “I just got to keep the faith. Being around people that inspire me, they lift me up and I just keep going.”
During October, Classic City High School teacher Carrie Fischer Siegmund began raising money for Mr. George to purchase a scooter to make his commute easier.
“I don’t know of anyone like George who would ride his bike six hours a day to go to school and then work without ever complaining,” Siegmund said. “He is an inspiration to all who know him, I was inspired to help.”
On Nov. 21, Siegmund was able to purchase the scooter from Moped Motion for Mr. George.
“(Getting my scooter) felt good, I felt good. I didn’t get a turkey for thanksgiving, I had a scooter and I love it,” Mr. George said. “It’s like I’ve been on a game show and just won the big prize.”
With his scooter, his travel time has been cut from three hours to 45 minutes.
“I feel that things are moving in the right direction for George,” Siegmund said. “He keeps trying even in the face of so many obstacles. He is truly an inspiration to those he encounters.”
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