Fan Guest of Honor: George Gordon

George Gordon is an excellent choice of Fan Guest of Honor, since he was at the first DucKon, and most in between. I am continually amazed how many fans know George and speak to him, and gratified that many avail themselves of his services as a professional Massage Therapist and bodyworker. For more years than we can count, George has massaged fandom. I know him be gentle and kind to the most disturbed of fans, and he can soothe crying babies while talking computers and gaming with their mothers. A true Renaissance Man is our George.

George was born a Scotsman and grew up in a fine Chicago Polish-Catholic parish near Division & Milwaukee. He got the Classical education at St. Ignatious High School, moving on to DeKalb to continue his education. He completed his professional massage training at Chicago School of Massage Training, though he had been studying other methods of Bodywork for decades. Like all fans, George acquired much of his education through independent reading, ranging from Astrophysics to Zoology. The scope of Georges knowledge about SF authors, works, ideas, details of speculative fiction and fandom boggles the imagination. In addition, it seems he recollects everything he reads. I imagine we all wish we had that gift!

George finds the world of Fandom a gentle circle in which to travel. Men respect him and women confide in him. He can discuss weapons and costuming as comfortably as computers and reptiles. In many and varied areas, he is a walking encyclopedia, someone I call when my library is closed and I have a reference question. This plethora of knowledge is augmented by a mind at once whimsical and twisted, characteristics to be much valued. Did I mention that he does really good massage work on human bodies in chronic pain? One should never begin a conversation with George on the subject of spiders, or scorpions, or, now that I think of it, insects in general, carnivorous plants, soil composition, molds, fungus and the composition (or decomposition) of living things if you have not the courage to learn all about them. (George knows, its uncanny!) If youre a guest on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, George would be the friend to call.

Georges experience with fandom began with his attendance at Chicago ComicCons around 1981. The science fiction types seemed to be the ones having the most fun, frequently dressing in costumes of their favorite literary or film characters, and carrying props (some of them working!). The first SF con George ever attended was ChiCon IV in 1982. He worked as a gopher, badger, & in security. This taught him that volunteering is the best way to meet fan, as well as assuring he saw everything. He had a fine time, had the experience of being in the right place, finally, and continued to attend & volunteer at as many cons as his schedule permitted. To this day his advice to newcomers is to get involved, volunteer, make themselves part of the Con by working it, that being the best way to meet folks and find out about everything. Come to think of it, that may explain why George is appreciated by so many folks in fandom.

George tells great stories in general, fantastic & silly stories about the cons he has attended: Constellation in Baltimore, 1983, highlights were working security, attending a NASA panel on propulsion systems, and, off-site, going to an All-You-Can-Eat Chinese Buffet that got scared when the fans, taking them at their sign, didnt stop eating. Capricon in 1984 he worked security, and got to know a lot of local fans, including members of a local Fan group, the Thursday Night Irregulars, some of whom are still friends.

Minicons captured his attention for five or six years, and George started getting to know the Guests of Honor. He was the official green room massage therapist for the last two MiniCons he attended.

"We would stay up all night talking with other techies and meeting fun people, playing with Sheahans pet ferrets," says George. WindyCons so small the film room was packed, and occasions when there were, shall we say, interesting juxtapositions of fen and mundanes from other events.

LA Con II in 1984 was somewhat surreal. The con, at the Anaheim convention center, was right across from Disneyland which in those days just wasnt ready for different realities. Fans in costume, wearing objectionable tee shirts, or carrying props were turned away at the Disneyland gates. WindyCon 1986 and 1987, George ran the gopher hole.

MiniCon, Easter, 1988: George dressed as Santa Claus, handing out Easter and Halloween candy on Easter Sunday. Some remember this as the con where George dressed another guy as Jesus, and tried to float him across the swimming pool.

Space Development Con in June 1988: With two days warning he was asked to run setup and tear down. He later learned he was also running programming and staffing the green room. George did okay, but had a really strange weekend.

New Orleans, 1988, NOLAcon II. The incomparable Crescent City and the elder statesfen of the 'floating ConCom', dispensing help and advice. Everybody worked hard, the heat was grim, a WorldCon was had by all.

And at DucKon, George was co-producer of the Kid's Con Suite in1994 and 1995. Klingons came and described making costumes, Guests of Honor visited, there were lots of gaming computers. The Kids Con Suite was a great service which more cons should consider. It would take a much greater time commitment by parental folks, but the too-old-for-childcare fans had a lot more fun with the programming aimed at them.

Since 1995, George has been helping out a disabled friend at local cons, (That would be me, Stephy!) and operating Practical Massage Therapy in Kenosha, Wisconsin. If you have had the experience of massage by George, and want more, call George. Kenosha is closer than you think!.

If you dont already know George (or if you do!) when you see him around and about DucKon, go up and introduce yourself! Just stick out your hand and say: "Hi there! I'm (insert your name here)!"

Cheers, Stephy

DucKon is an activity and fund raiser for Super-Con-Duck-Tivity, a non-profit organization under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Proceeds from DucKon go to support the Golden Duck Awards for Excellence in Children's Science Fiction Literature. Donations to Super-Con-Duck-Tivity are considered tax deductible. Please note that only the amount above and beyond the amount paid for service or items is tax deductible. The price of membership to DucKon is not deductible. Direct donations (cash or merchandise) are considered to be deductible according to the IRS. Please keep this in mind as you complete your taxes.