He retired from George Brothers Garage Inc. six years ago when he developed cancer, which now is in remission. He fled the grease and oil to the warmth and sawdust of his workshop.
“I spend at least 10-12 hours out here,” he said. “I don’t ever turn the radio on. I can’t get the ball game anyway, so, the heck with it.”
Since 1970, when he built his first show wagon, he has become widely known for his show wagon artwork. His first wagon was influenced by a wagon belonging to the Oda brothers, Larry, Paul and David, from Verona, who he encountered on Thanksgiving of that year.
“I asked them if I could take the measurements off of their wagon,” said George. “They said, ‘Sure. Bring a flashlight and pencil and paper and take any measurement you want because we are going to eat Thanksgiving dinner.’ That is how I started building.”
After he built his second wagon, which was loaned to Roger Blankenship of Lewisburg, who won with it at the Ohio State Fair, there was a demand for Earl George wagons. The Oda brothers and George have remained friendly competitors.
“Once we start through the gate, then I am going to try to beat you,” George said. “There is only one ribbon I want and that is the blue.”
George said his most outstanding show wagon he built was in the late 1990s — a green wagon with white wheels, built for Bill Jameson of Indiana.
At fairs, the announcer will say, “Guess how many carts Earl George & Son has this year?” On show days, Earl and Sandy’s son Curt helps out.
George said his wagons stand out because they are bright.
“Black or a dark maroon don’t show up,” George said.
George said his grandfather was a wagon builder in London, Ky.
“He built the wheels and everything,” said George. “Of course back then, they only made about two wagons a year. They had to build everything by hand. They didn’t have any machinery — so that is where I get my talent, from my grandpa.”
A special red and white, six-horse hitch wagon he built in 1990 is in the barn.
“In 1998, that same wagon hauled my daddy to his grave from the Baptist Church (Camden) to Camden Cemetery north of town,” George said. “People in town were standing on their porches taking pictures because the younger generation had never seen a casket in a wagon.”
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