A Tribute to a Born Leader

Georgia Military College paid tribute to the man who made it all possible this past weekend with two events honoring retired Maj. Gen. Peter Boylan. 
I was privileged to attend the Saturday Atlanta Pops performance to honor the President of GMC, and it was very patriotic, as befits the man - and very entertaining. 
In a time when we see so few true heroes, men who have given their lives for country or cause, there we were within a few feet of the genuine article. And although I've been in his presence for over 20 years, I am still awed when he comes around.

This West Point graduate and former Commandant of Cadets at the service academy is a true American hero, cut from the mold of those we call the Greatest Generation, although he came although during the Vietnam era.
The sacrifices he has made for America and the town of Milledgeville will one day be legendary. In fact, had the south had him during the War Between the States, Grant may have surrendered to Lee. Just kidding, he's from Wisconsin and would most likely have fought for the North. But I digress.

Leaders come from all walks of life, but they all have a few things in common and one trait would be the ability to get people to do something they may not want to do. In war it becomes more important from a personal point of view, for if you're asked to charge a hill there has to be that still small voice asking, "Do I really need to do this?" But you're under orders and so you charge the hill.
There was quite a "hill" to charge when Boylan came to Georgia Military College and no one was under "orders" which makes what he did all the more remarkable, in fact miraculous. We were indeed "floundering" when he came.

He began by walking the halls and just looking around. As a teacher, I can tell you we all knew where he was looking at any given time and whether or not he would be in an area where we might need to pay attention.
He would make a habit of sitting in your class for however long it took for you to begin to sweat and then politely and quietly leave, never saying a word. It was, I suppose, the military equivalent of a reconnaissance mission. He had this presence, an expectation he put forth that only a genuine leader has. He made you think about whether you were doing all you could to be the best teacher you could be.
He would tell us in faculty and staff meetings, "I don't worry about what you are doing to accomplish our mission, I expect you to be doing what we all are about, inculcating our students with a sense of duty, honor, and country."

What I learned from this man, among many other things, was that our students' duty at this time in their lives was to become the best students they could be and that our duty as teachers was to help them accomplish that goal; that we were all to honor our country and ourselves by being patriotic and giving something back to our community, becoming a productive member of society. And, that love of country needed to be encouraged and nurtured.

He created an environment where this was allowed to take place. He did it by honoring veterans at parades, insisting that those wonderful songs we cherish as a people, "America," "The Star Spangled Banner," and yes, the "Army Song," among others, were played loudly and often.
There were other incidences, too many to mention where he taught us how to be better in all ways. Suffice to say, he did it all with a touch of class, as we watched him dance, heard him sing, and loved him as only a leader can be loved. May God bless him. And we thank God for sending him our way.


Published Wednesday, June 12, 2013 in the Macon Telegraph