On June 12^th one of the people I most admire quietly celebrated his 86^th birthday.  In the past, he has marked the event jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.   

I have had the honor of being present at some of former President George H.W. Bush’s parachute jumps including his accelerated free-fall jump in 1997 and tandem jumps for his 80^th birthday and into the rededication ceremony for his Presidential Library. 

I first met President Bush 41 in 1988 when he was vice-president and campaigning for the Presidency.   I was astonished when he took time to come over and talk with my then 9-year old son.   A few weeks later, I had the chance to meet him again and this time he took a few minutes to talk with me and thank me for my service to the country.  A hand shake and an autograph and I thought that was the end of the story.

In March 1997, I got the call that I was going to be part of the Army team supporting the now former President’s accelerated freefall jump at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ.  On the night before the jump President and Mrs. Bush hosted a dinner all of us who were helping with the event.  As they arrived they walked around the entire room and spoke to everyone.  They made the circuit again on the way out.  They were extremely gracious and kind.  The President was very politely to everyone calling them ma’am or sir.

The Bushes treated people in the same manner as we were trying to treat them.  If you were meeting them first time and had no knowledge of history you would have not know they were the former President and First Lady of the United States.

Over the years, I have never ceased to be impressed by the decency and kindness of this man.  After the first parachute, I wrote President Bush several times and always got a response…sometimes handwritten.   

On the night before his eulogy for former President Reagan and a few days before his 80^th birthday jump, Mr. Bush hosted a barbeque for those of us supporting the event.  There was a reception outside the former home of the Texas A&M Chancellor.  The former President and I along with a few of my staff were among the last to entire for dinner.

As we entered the house, I figured someone had a place reserved for the president.  My team and I located a table in the corner of the hallway.  As we settled in, President Bush appeared and sat down.  Believe me; this was far from the best seat in the room.  We were all startled…but tremendously honored.

Throughout the meal President Bush was more than gracious sharing stories, but more importantly making sure that each of us at his table were taken care of as if we were the former President of the United States.

When it came time for dessert, President Bush told the staff to bring each of us blackberry cobbler with a scope of Blue Bell ice cream.  While we waited, he shared with us how Blue Bell was the best ice cream in the world.  He was right and I will never forget this experience.

Last December, we took three U.S. Army All-American football players from the Houston area to meet him.  His schedule was jam packed and I figured it was going to be a quick photo op and then he’d be on to his next appointment.  I should have known better.

After the pictures, the former President conducted a personal tour of his office for the three awe-struck players.  He shared stories of the pictures and mementos in his modestly small office.  He was as I have always known him to be gracious and kind.

I admire President Bush for all that he accomplished in service to our Nation both as a political leader and a private citizen.

 George H.W. Bush is a good, decent, and honorable man whose life of service to others is a shining example for all us.  Whether it has been service to others through his Points of Life Foundation; or caring for others through his support to the MD Anderson Cancer Center; or helping teach young Americans the value of service through the George Bush School of Public Service at Texas A&M College; or raising funds for the victims of natural disasters…this man has lived a life of service.  In ways big and small, he and Barbara Bush have answered the call to help others.

I am honored to know him and extremely humbled by the gracious and kind way he has always treated me.