I want to remember several things about George Smith who recently succumbed to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

First, George was a man of honesty, integrity and character. When he believed in something he championed that cause in a civil and moral fashion. His lifelong passion for the outdoors led him to a political life and lobbying for Maine’s hunters and fishermen.

His belief in conserving the outdoors for future generations led him into the world of environmentalism, where he provided a softer form of leadership, but essential for his primary goals.

Maine has lost a giant in the world of advocacy for all things outdoors. We miss him personally, and we miss him as a community of believers in the value of an outdoors lifestyle. His downhome, folksy style of writing belied his fierce belief in clean water, clean air and access to the outdoors through public and private partnerships.

Thank you, George, for all you did. And may the lasting tribute to you be the preservation, in Maine, of outdoor spaces we all can enjoy.

Douglas Boyink

Mount Vernon