George "GJC" Fries was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 17, 1938. His journey through adult life began with four years with the Class of 1960 at the Academy where he developed friendships that would last fifty eight years. GJC passed away on Aug. 7, 2014 after a courageous fight against cancer.

While at the Academy, GJC enthusiastically participated in learning the tolls of the military trade while spending time ensuring the success of the formation of Lacrosse as a recognized sport and promoting fan participation of intercollegiate athletics as a dynamic member of the rally committee. His dedicated work as the business manager on the yearbook staff guaranteed all of us a memorable record of our cadet days.

After an aborted attempt at pilot training, GJC was assigned to Little Rock AFB as a tanker navigator; received his first taste of a combat environment refueling fighters over Thailand and B-52s heading for Vietnam. His subsequent assignment to SOS as a Section Commander and Evaluation Officer started him into the education field where he would return later in life. He completed one combat tour at Pleiku, RVN as EC- 47 Instructor Navigator prior to tours of duty at SAC, PACAF and TAC HQs providing programming support and system analysis for various SIOP communities, and assisting in computer resource integration of the E3A, F-15, and F-16 aircraft.

George followed that with a one-year tour with the U.S. Forces Korea staff supporting the Worldwide Military Command & Control System, prior to moving halfway across the globe for a three-year tour at HQ US EUCOM. In Germany, he provided the command staff with automated Command and Control and Intelligence data. Following his next stop at HQS ADTAC, Langley AFB, Va., he completed a final PCS back to Korea. This assignment found him supporting both US Forces and the Korea Staffs at Combined Forces Command.

960, George retired to beautiful Hawaii, where he spent nine months as a contractor, and five years as a landscaper. Upon his return to CONUS in 1994, he became very actively engaged in providing landscape support for Busch Gardens, Europe, during the summer and, following his love for education took on the role of substitute teaching at middle and high school levels to fill out his year. He was a member of VFW Post 824 (probably recruited by D.K. Johnson) and enhanced his love for landscaping by achieving the qualification as a Master Gardner.

George's winning disposition and love of life prompted him to try just about anything. He could always be depended on to take on any challenge with gusto and a light sense of humor that made work a pleasure. As an occasional participant in the yearly class ski group, George won the annual award for his skill and dexterity in lift-riding. His ability to find some humor in just about any situation endeared him to everyone who knew him.

GJC is survived by his wife of 33 years, Rebecca Fries; four daughters, Suzanne Boucher (Ron) of Baton Rouge, La., Nicole Feldman of Little Rock, Ark., Jennifer Bowers (Christopher) of Kent Ohio and Stefanie Goodrich (Mark) of Summerville, S.C.; a son, Matthew Fries (Michelle) of Springdale, Ark.; a sister, Rosemarie Vetter of Bronx, N.Y.; and 12 grandchildren: Taylor, Dotty, Marcom, Michael, Brian, Alycia, Trey, Brianna, Brittany, Amber, Savannah and Liam.

(Andrew W. Biancur, '60)