Washington Huskies: George Hickman
Washington remembers beloved usher Hickman
August, 20, 2012
8/20/12
11:56
AM PT
By
Mason Kelley | ESPN.com
SEATTLE -- George Hickman greeted everyone with a handshake and a smile.
No matter how much time passed, the longtime usher in the Husky Stadium and CenturyLink Field press boxes -- he also worked at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion -- always asked for an update on those who stopped to talk to him.
One of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen, the 88-year-old died Sunday. The news hit the Huskies athletic department hard, with coaches taking to Twitter to share a short story and some kind words.
"George Hickman will be missed," Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He represented the UW and the Tuskegee Airmen with class. I will always appreciate how he treated my family."
Huskies basketball coach Lorenzo Romar added, "Wow. Really going to miss George Hickman. He was one of the most inspirational men that I have ever met."
Hickman, who attended Barack Obama's presidential inauguration in 2009, was so beloved in the Seattle sports community, he raised the 12th Man flag before a Seattle Seahawks game last season.
Among the first African-American pilots to fly for the military in World War II, he was a hero. He was a friend. He will be missed.
No matter how much time passed, the longtime usher in the Husky Stadium and CenturyLink Field press boxes -- he also worked at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion -- always asked for an update on those who stopped to talk to him.
One of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen, the 88-year-old died Sunday. The news hit the Huskies athletic department hard, with coaches taking to Twitter to share a short story and some kind words.
"George Hickman will be missed," Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He represented the UW and the Tuskegee Airmen with class. I will always appreciate how he treated my family."
Huskies basketball coach Lorenzo Romar added, "Wow. Really going to miss George Hickman. He was one of the most inspirational men that I have ever met."
Hickman, who attended Barack Obama's presidential inauguration in 2009, was so beloved in the Seattle sports community, he raised the 12th Man flag before a Seattle Seahawks game last season.
Among the first African-American pilots to fly for the military in World War II, he was a hero. He was a friend. He will be missed.
ABOUT HUSKY NATION
Mason Kelley
Mason Kelley joined ESPN.com in 2012 and covers Washington recruiting. Kelley came to ESPN after spending three years as the high school sports coordinator at The Seattle Times. He has written about high school, college and professional sports since 2004, working for newspapers in Florida, California, Idaho and Washington. He currently lives in Seattle and can be reached at masonkelleyESPN@gmail.com.