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George was born in Memphis, Tennessee on 14 October 1919 to Charles Frederick and Mattie Mae Scott Hozier. As a boy, he loved to hunt and fish in the woods and lakes near his home, a hobby that continued throughout his life. His military career got an early start in his high school ROTC unit, where he became a cadet colonel. A year at Marion Military Institute further prepared him so that when he arrived at West Point in 1938, he already knew the fine points of keeping his equipment in top condition a skill his nonmilitary roommates learned only after many demerits. Academically, George achieved high rank and stars easily while devoting many hours to helping others as an academic coach. His aptitude in drawing made him winner of the Drawing Academy Award and a natural choice as Cadet Instructor when World War II called many officer instructors away from West Point.</p>
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On graduation, George chose the Air Corps and received his wings at George Field, Illinois, on 7 December 1942. He went on to four-engine school at Sebring, Florida, and Operational Training in California, before joining the Eighth Air Force in England in March 1944, with the 457th Bomb Group flying fins. He commanded the 784th Bomb Squadron, which he lead on 23 combat missions, including a 28 May 1944 mission over Berlin, for which he was awarded the Silver Star. On 17 September 1944, his plane was shot down over southern Holland, an event witnessed by classmate Dick Brice, who was unable to tell if anyone survived. George was the last one out and was knocked unconscious upon hitting the bomb bay door. He fell thousands of feet before regainig consciousness at about 1,000 feet. After pulling the rip cord, with blood streaming from his head wound, he had the presence of mind to remove his class ring and hide it in his flight jacket before being captured by front-line German troops. Shortly after, he was welcomed to Stalag Luft I at Barth, Germany, by classmates Palfrey, Beers, Jaynes, and R.O. Smith. In prison, his steady courage and unfailing sense of humor set an outstanding example for other men until liberation by Soviet troops on 1 May 1945.</p>
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Shortly after his return to Memphis, he met Shirley Tucker, and they married on 28 October 1945, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Following three years in the Mechanics Department at USMA; the birth of George, Jr., in June 1947; and two years in the Harvard MBA Program, Boston, Massachusetts, George headed for the Pentagon. His daughter Brooks was born in Washington, D.C., in August 1950.</p>
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He began the first of a series of assignments in procurement, production, inspection and testing of aircraft and other material. He became a highly qualified specialist, leading to assignments at Norton Air Force Base; the Pentagon; Marietta, Georgia; and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which was interrupted by a tour in Korea at Taegu as commander of the 58th Air Base Group. He was awarded a Legion of Merit and two Air Force Commendation Medals.</p>
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As the Air Force plant representative at Lockheed facilities in Marietta, Georgia, George was responsible for supervising contracts for development and production of C-130 and C-140 aircraft. In 1960, he went to Wright-Patterson as director of production of the Central Contract Management Region. In 1962, he became director of the T-38/F-5 System Program Office, where he introduced the supersonic T-38 trainer to the Air Force. He also oversaw development of the F-5, a supersonic fighter supplied to U.S. allies. He was fully qualified in both aircraft. From 1964 to 1966, while still at WPAFB, he served as deputy for Subsystems and Equipment, with responsibility for procurement of equipment and services worth over $1.25 billion a year.</p>
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Upon retirement in 1966, George joined the General Electric Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. His Air Force background made him well-suited to become the logistics manager for the Supersonic Transport Project. When GE won the engine contract, George met all milestones and guarantees until the government cancelled the program. He then moved to Cleveland, where he was in charge of procurement for all of GE’s lamp-making equipment.</p>
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In 1981, George retired from GE and, with Shirley, moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. They built their retirementhome and enjoyed being near their children and granddaughters, Sarah and Anna.</p>
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George was in fine health when he and Shirley attended the Class Mini-Reunion in San Antonio in October 1989. However, shortly after returning to Arizona he was stricken with a rare respiratory virus. After weeks of valiant effort to survive, George died on 19 December 1989.</p>
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George was loved and admired by family and friends. Over the years he received many official recognitions, including one from Lieutenant General Robert G. Ruegg, with whom he served for over two decades, praising George’s leadership and ability to achieve the most from his people and resources. But perhaps George would most have treasured what his son, who graduated with the USMA Class of 1969, wrote in a tribute after his father's death: “...as USMA was the most important institution in his life, his classmates and family were the most important people in his life. I did not understand these things until many years after I graduated with a much larger class from a changed institution. It is ironic that I would learn the true meaning of being a USMA graduate, not from my own experiences, but from my father’s.”</p>
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George left a legacy of love and comradeship that is impossible to overrate. He was, indeed, a man for all seasons and memories of him will always be clear and cherished.</p>
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<em>By G.E.H. and C.P</em></p>