A Heart as Big as His Beard
By Dabney Crawford
Fleming County High School

The sun bears down on a Habitat for Humanity worksite during one of the hottest summers on record in Louisville. Red dust kicks up from the bare ground and the banging of hammers on nails drowns out all but the most strident of shouts as dozens of volunteers work together.
In all this mayhem, one figure seems to stand out in the crowd. Saw in hand, bent over his work with a gray, saw dusted beard reaching down toward his belly and an old wooden pipe clenched between his teeth. They call him George, and all the 360 high-school students who worked at the site as part of the Governor’s Scholars Program will remember him.
The scholars were there as part of a first-ever partnership of Habitat, which builds home for deserving families, and Governor’s Scholars, which offers a five-week course for top Kentucky high school students that includes academics and public service. The course often changes the students’ perspectives.
George Hofmann might be a case in point. At first glance, most George looks intimidating, maybe even scary, but when people get to know him, it’s a complete turnaround. Scholars describe him as “patient,” “resourceful” and “a good Christian.”
    “At first, I was scared of him because of his long beard, but then after a while he was nice and very helpful, said scholar Sydney Abrams from Henry County High School. “George helped me cut the wood for the kitchen cabinets. I’d never cut wood before and he was a great instructor.”
    George has been growing that intimidating beard for the past thirty-two years, and it now extends to his chest. Scholars joked that when he finished cutting a piece of wood that his beard would be full of sawdust.
He will take off his hat exposing a bald head, and laugh, saying the hair “just keeps sliding down” to his beard.
George has been working with Habitat for Humanity for the past seven years. His journey started when his church sponsored a house. After completing that house he asked Chuck Sgro, the Habitat team leader on site if he could continue working on “Chuck’s Team,” and he has been ever since. 
“It keeps me out of the bars.” George jokes.
Chuck has a similar story about getting involved with Habitat. His wife asked him to fill in for her one day and help with a Habitat home as part of a church project. He has been a volunteer ever since. Chuck has this to say about George:
    “Well he’s a little old curmudgeon. He is bright and intelligent. He always says, ‘This is the way grandpa would do it....’

George Hofmann on the Habitat site.

Wise scholars take his advice to heart. In the past, George worked in a metal shop as a project manager. He is now retired for 15 years but still dedicates three days a week to Habitat for Humanity. He estimates that he has helped build between 50 and 60 houses in the last seven years. His favorite part of building each house is “raise the roof.”
    “It’s like there is nothing there one minute and then the shape of the house is there the next minute.” he said.
George says he does whatever Chuck tells him to do, but he mainly cuts all the wood for the house and lays out the walls.  He is there from the beginning to the end of each build, helping guide other volunteers and getting to know the family.
    “If you ask him to do anything, you can be sure he will complete the job,” Chuck said. “I couldn’t complete a job without him. George has a heart as big as a house.”