George Bayless’ family moved to then Van Buren Township in 1949, where he entered Van Buren Junior High School as a seventh grader. He graduated from Fairmont in 1955, and Denison University in 1959. Newly married to Charlene, they set up housekeeping in the Van Buren Apartments in Kettering.

George attended the first Holiday at Home Parade in September, 1959, shortly before leaving for six months active duty with the United States Army. He got back the first Saturday in March, 1960, just in time to attend a meeting for volunteers on Sunday. He met Don Williams and agreed to help Don with the Evening program at Fairmont Stadium. In those years, it was the last event of the weekend, being presented on Monday evening. He assisted Don for two years, before following his father as President in 1962.

It was that year that a proposal was made to have a sanctioned bicycle race on the streets of Kettering. The first one was in1962 and continued for the rest of the 60’s. The main event was the Tour of Kettering which was preceded by various races for youngsters. The Tour of Kettering included racers from throughout the country bringing national publicity for Holiday at Home and Kettering.

George served as Chairman in 1963 and continued serving on the Board of Trustees. In 1966, George became Chairman of the Evening Program and served in that capacity through 1969. George continued serving as parade marshal, driver in the parade, working backstage in Talent Show/Miss Holiday Pageant, assisting with the Fireworks Show, and helping put on the Coronation Ball. He served for three years, 1977-79, as Miss Holiday Chairman. He served as Historian throughout the 1990’s while continuing to help as needed. George has attended every Holiday at Home with the exception of the 1980 weekend when he took daughter Rebecca to college in Vermont. By the way, Rebecca was born in August, 1962, riding in the Parade sound asleep on her mother’s shoulder when just a month old. His children, Rebecca and Laura, grew up with Holiday at Home and remember it foundly.

George was active in musical organizations where he played the French horn. He played in the Fairmont High School Band and the NCR Band while in high school and the Denison Concert Band while in college. He played in the Dayton Municipal Band under the direction of Don Bassett after college. He spent several years playing in the Kettering Civic Band. He played for twenty-four years in the Sinclair College Community Concert Band.

George’s community service included Kettering Holiday at Home (president – 1962), Sertoma Club of Dayton (president – 1977), President’s Club of Dayton (president – 1981), Miami Valley Military Affairs Association (board member 1988-89), Kettering Arts Council (1987-1993 and 2002– present). He has served on two public boards representing the City of Kettering. He was appointed to the Board of the Miami Valley Regional Transit Authority (now the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority) in 1994-1999 serving as Chairman 1998 and 1999. He was appointed to the Miami Valley Cable Council (now the Miami Valley Communications Council) in 2001 and has served since. He served as Council Chairman in 2008.

In July, 2001, he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Kettering Board of Education. In November, 2001, he was elected to a four year term beginning January, 2002 and was reelected to another four year term in November, 2005. He served as Vice President of the Board in 2005.

Kettering Holiday At Home Foundation is very pleased to honor Mr. George H. Bayless, Jr. as the 2008 Grand Marshal.