A FOND GOOD BYE TO A GOOD HEARTED, "STICKER" OF A MAN: GEORGE RODNEY SACKETT

This weekend we say good bye to a local treasure. George Sackett has helped more people in more ways than about anybody I ever met. He was practicing tough love with his friends going through troubled times before anybody knew that's what it was supposed to be called.

If he was your friend, he'd never quit on you. He would be there not only till the last dog died, but until he did. There was no more ferociously loyal friend.

George was a gifted craftsman, a skilled businessman and a compassionate, humanistic man. He had unusual, folksy speech patterns but was still a captivating storyteller. He was a brother veteran.

There is no one to replace George's heroic assistance to an entire community in need of his skills and passion. Still, if all the people he has helped will now pass it on to others, we'll do OK.

Special people come into our lives. George was one of mine. Nobody ever taught me more about what it means to be a man, in the best sense of that term.

I'll miss you, Buddy. Every time I'm in a tight spot, though, I'll handle it better for having had your example. GodSpeed.