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Monahan Hall, the F-16 building, was dedicated to <em>George</em>’s memory at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio on 30 March 1993 by those he had led and served with throughout his 35-year Air Force career. It stands on Monahan Way, a street so named to sustain the memory of how he achieved leadership success and how he conducted his professional and private life in a way true to the principles of Duty, Honor, Country and the family that he so greatly cherished.</p>
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Born on 21 November 1933 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to George Lennox and Clara Weber Monahan, George was the second son of their four boys and one daughter. He and his brothers’ early years were heavily influenced by their grandfather, retired Army MSG John Weber, who fostered the discipline and leadership values that George expanded at West Point and in his professional life. MSG Weber was a career Army Bandmaster who, after retirement, became the St. Thomas Academy band director in St. Paul, MN. He taught George to play the trumpet. MSG Weber had a dream that one of his grandsons would attend West Point because he had been a member of the West Point Band at the turn of the century. George was the realization of that dream.</p>
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At West Point, George got a nickname from his hockey coach, Jack Riley, during Plebe year. During Jack’s annual first day plebe skating “beauty contest,” George stood out so prominently that Jack stopped him in midice with a “Hold it! What’s your name?” George replied “Mr. Monahan, Sir.” Jack responded, “Mo, you’re on the team.” Jack, who coached the 1960 USA Olympic Hockey Team to the gold medal, remembers “Mo” as one of his all-time best unrecruited hockey players. “Mo” went on from there to play four seasons for West Point and was Captain of the 1955 Army team.</p>
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George made people, the fields of friendly strife and academics his priorities during his Academy years. As the Howitzer states . .the sack never came first except during study hours in the evenings.” George had a keen mind and academics came easily for him. Eight years after graduation he earned his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Sports came easily also. As captain of the Army hockey team in 1955, he had a mid-season injury that kept him on the sidelines. Nevertheless, he inspired his team at every game.</p>
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Eagerly awaited in Company D-2 were George’s regular packages from his mom containing angel food cake cushioned by popcorn. George shared them with everyone, including “doolies.” A main topic at these sessions was the mysterious “Rock,” who was his main squeeze.</p>
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His classmates and teammates were to meet her only after graduation. Mary the Rock, was first among all the people that George held dear, and people were his first priority. He cared about people individually and collectively. As D-2 Honor representative George spent many late night sessions agonizing over his decisions. This characteristic foreshadowed his leadership success throughout his life.</p>
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Mary Rockwell and George were married 20 July 1957, after he got his wings and first flying assignment with the F-86 squadron at Selfridge AFB in Michigan. Here their first of five children, Cathy, was born. By now Mary had adopted “Mo” as George’s name and still uses it on her Virginia license plate that reads “Mo and Me.” Cathy’s four brothers were born during successive assignments: George III in 1960 while George flew with the 59th Fighter Squadron in Goose Bay Labrador; Joseph in 1961 in Minneapolis just a few weeks before George returned from Labrador to get his MSEE degree at the University of New Hampshire; Brian in 1963 while the family enjoyed the University; and Andy in 1964 during George’s first R&D assignment with the Gemini program at Patrick AFB in Florida. George’s Gemini work contributed directly to the Apollo moon landings beginning in 1969.</p>
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George substituted golf for hockey sometime after leaving Goose Bay since ice became hard to find. He and Mary loved the game and played as often as possible. It is not clear where George became addicted; it could have been while at Patrick or in 1966-67 while at the Army Command and Staff College. Suspicions abound that he may have had a putter in his hooch in Danang, Viet Nam, where he completed his 122 combat flying missions, 75 of them over North Vietnam. For this he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. It could have been in Montgomery, Alabama, where he attended the Air War College in 1971-72 and probably took on some more of his many friends who delighted in his company. Probably his addiction to the camaraderie of the game and his love of being with Mary, his family, and his extended family of friends were the real source of his love of golf. This people orientation carried him through all of his subsequent successful assignments, including the F-16 program at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. On his second tour at Wright-Pat, 1980-83, Mary pinned on his first star while his F-16 staff approvingly watched. That same F-16 building would someday be called Monahan Hall.</p>
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In Belgium, as director of the European F-16 co-production program, he made many international friends. George went on to assignments as Deputy Commander, AF Systems Command; Deputy Chief of Staff, AF; and finally he was appointed by President Bush to be Director of the Strategic Defense Initiative. On 30 June 1990, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney retired George at Bolling AFB. From the parade fields of West Point to lieutenant general, USAF George loved his country and was proud to have served 35 years.</p>
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George left many friends and converts to the Monahan Way when he joined the Long Gray Line. First among equals are Mary and their children, who are doing it his way. George III and Andy are flying, George for Atlantic Coast Airlines and Andy for the Air Force. Joe and Brian are practicing Monahan Way principals in business and Cathy is practicing them as mother and teacher. George’s four grandchildren, who love and remember him, will carry them forward. Mary keeps vigil on each of them and their children, and the many friends of the extended Monahan Way family</p>
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George gave more to us than we to him, but he was especially happy in the giving and he never tried to equate the balance. George lived fully selflessly but minus the too-proud blare of a personal trumpet. In the Cadet Prayer are these words: “...Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer.”</p>
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These words express the principles of the Monahan Way. They were George’s means to leadership and success in his family professional and social life. Well done, Mo!</p>
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<em>Your friend and brother-in-law, Dirk Lueders '56</em></p>