George arrived just a bit later on. I hope he doesn't mind if I lift what he wrote about his arrival, over at the Bulldog Skates in a tribute to Polar bear on the day he died:
Man, I don't even know where to begin.I OWE so much to Polar Bear.I landed in Venice with Shogo in 1978 from Florida with the dream of livin in LA.and skating with all the boyz.I had $200.00 to my name and nowhere to stay. Shogo took me to Z and hooked me up with polar bear, he said I could stayat his place.Little did I know it was in the middle of the hood.I've read a lot of the stuff on these boards since the DT.documentary came out. I'm telling you respect was earned not given.I owe a lot to polar bear for opening the door for me. The door was open but I wasn't given a hall pass.I had to prove myself, day in and day out.I've been going through so many emotions and memories in the last couple of hours. I've lived in Venice & SM. for 27 yrs.I truely feel if it wasn't for Polar Bear I may not have been able to stay.A lot of people know how good he was for a while during marina. He was the best skater in the world hands down period. He did the heaviest stalled inverts, the gnarliest R&R boardslides from deep to shallow,and his hip blasts. He was also a very good surfer.That is how he got his name polar bear. He was a pudgy, little, white kid surfing the breakwater with no wetsuit.I'm sorry to ramble so much.I feel this is something I had to put out there.I will never forget you my brother, friend & teammate.Thanks for all the memories.
.......................REST IN PEACE!!!