Life lessons from the beekeeper, the late George Schloegel
Far from marble halls and conference tables, George Schloegel was doing his part to help humanity from behind his Gulfport home where he tended tiny, buzzing workers bent on finishing their jobs. Kind of like he did on Friday, Oct. 6, when he left us unexpectedly. He finished his job.
For the hundreds who knew and respected George as the consummate negotiator and responsible businessman, it’s likely difficult to picture the tall man with starch-white hair -- usually attired in a stylish suit and polished shoes -- wearing beekeeper garb.
I met George walking the halls of the Mississippi Capitol with a warm smile, shaking hands and inviting everyone he encountered to the Gulf Coast Legislative Reception. He took time to ask what issues I was working and how my boys were doing. Fast forward several years, and I am dating his son, Mark. George and Peggy made sure I was welcomed into their amazing family.
One afternoon, George invited me to walk to the bee hives at their house. He was wearing his beekeeper suit with smokers lit, guiding the bellowing smoke used to encourage the bees to leave the hive so he could repair the slatted racks. He methodically disassembled, repaired, and cleaned the hives. Then, George put everything back together, and we watched the bees come home to their hives. I asked how he was so knowledgeable about bee keeping; he laughed and said he watched a lot of YouTube videos. That was George.
The bees in the hive vibrate their wings to generate heat when it’s cold. They gather pollen to make honey to feed the hive. George believed the best outcomes happened when everyone worked together, just like the bees he cared for. He made sure his employees and colleagues had the basic necessities to thrive in a healthy hive, just like his bees. He inspired that teamwork ethic in others. And, often, the results were smooth and sweet as honey.
Bees communicate in their colonies to gather food, avoid predators and threats, and divide the hive workload. George was the ultimate communicator. His words of encouragement moved you to be your best, course correct when you needed to, and live by the phrase carpe diem — seize the day — because tomorrow is not promised.
Bees in the hive live for a short time, and the legacy they leave is a hive abundant with honey and healthy bees to continue the work. George knew taking care of the smallest among us, like these bees, helped provide a healthy foundation for life. George lived to leave a legacy of good. Not a legacy of things, but one of salvation, of treating others with respect and kindness. A legacy of leaving his beloved Gulfport, the Coast, Mississippi, and the world better than he found it.
On the Friday of his passing, George, Peggy, Mark, Melissa Schloegel Marion and her husband Andrew and I had planned to visit New Orleans to see “What a Wonderful World” at the Saenger Theatre. Isn’t that what George Schloegel, the beekeeper, helped make for each of us? This really is a wonderful world because there was a George Schloegel to push us to reach our potential, tell us things would be OK, and in the toughest of times, how to make our “hive,” our world, a better place.
This line from “What a Wonderful World,” captures him: “I see friends shaking hands. Saying, ‘How do you do?’ They’re really saying, ‘I love you.’” Godspeed George – we love you forever.
Donna Echols is the CEO of The Echols Group and a family member of George Schloegel.