George Williams

[jode hillman]

I thought I would share some sad news. The original Runamuck Carver, Mr. George Williams from Delaware has passed .

George was a long time and active member on duckboats. And a fixture in the carving community.

His memory was infallible and his dedication to the craft of working Decoys was as deep as it could be.

He always like to kid us oil painters and saying we were using "greasy kids stuff "! And I used to laugh, but he was serious lol.

However, whenever you would arrive at a show where George was , when he recognized you a big grin would flash across his face. He always had a good natured insult to greet you. In my case it was once

" I see they let the trash out from Jersey!

A hearty laugh of joking acceptance always following.

He will be missed, but his many contributions to duck hunting and carving shall remain in spite of his passing.

If you knew George, you know exactly what 120 SB on his shirt meant!

One of George's favorite sayings below


" So many Carvers, so a few Decoy makers"

 

[J.Russell]

I saw him at the World's in April. He was still competing. Gave me a big hug. He will be missed.

 

[Carl]

Well, darn. Didn’t expect to read this today.
George was one the most well known and well respected members of our family here on the DHBP. He will be missed.
My condolences to his family and to those of the DHBP who knew him well.

 

[Eric Patterson]

George was a fixture of this site in the early days and certainly had a following. I know I had a rig of his gadwall decoys and they looked great on the water and fooled plenty. I wish his family all the comfort possible during these difficult times. RIP George.

 

[Gary G]

He was a character and will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.

I can only imagine the “finds” that will come out of his basement workshop aka “dungeon”.

 

[D. Hinton]

I first “met” George via this website and then actually first time in person in his beloved Argentina.
George was always willing to share decoy patterns and color schemes when asked and if you knew George his stern “opinionated” thoughts on decoys.
I’m happy to have been his friend over the years since then. Always appreciated decoy debates and updates on my long commutes to and from work

Glad I got to see him in April at the worlds

 

[Steve Sanford]

I thought I would share some sad news. The original Runamuck Carver, Mr. George Williams from Delaware has passed .

George was a long time and active member on duckboats. And a fixture in the carving community.

His memory was infallible and his dedication to the craft of working Decoys was as deep as it could be.

He always like to kid us oil painters and saying we were using "greasy kids stuff "! And I used to laugh, but he was serious lol.

However, whenever you would arrive at a show where George was , when he recognized you a big grin would flash across his face. He always had a good natured insult to greet you. In my case it was once

" I see they let the trash out from Jersey!

A hearty laugh of joking acceptance always following.

He will be missed, but his many contributions to duck hunting and carving shall remain in spite of his passing.

If you knew George, you know exactly what 120 SB on his shirt meant!

One of George's favorite sayings below


" So many Carvers, so a few Decoy makers"

All~

I believe I met George only once - up in Clayton in the early 20-teens.

He sent this fine Broadie-Beak to our (LI Decoy Collectors Association) first-ever contest - in Hauppauge in 2016. (We took portraits of each entry that year.) All his birds had the distinctive "George Williams" look on their heads - which I always found especially appealing. He always nailed the character of each species.



In recent years, he asked me - via e-mail - to post photos of his monthly output here on duckboats.net. I did so for at least a couple of years. His assortment of postures must make the rigs "move" when on the water.



I edited each cell-phone image to make his shop floor a bit less cluttered.

Although he and I freely shared advice on painting gunning stool, he always sent new painters toward traditional pigments - whereas I opted for the Behr sample jars.



He seemed to make/sell lots of birds for use in Argentina - and sent this "in-use" photo for posting.



I now wish I had purchased one of George's Drake Broadbill when I first met him at Clayton in 2013 (or 14 or 15?). I was also too shy to ask him why he - serving as a judge - relegated my cork Brant to 2nd Place. (Which was OK because all 4 of my hollow wooden decoys were DQ'd - disqualified for my alleged raised primaries....a tale for another day....)



All the best to George's family - some of whom I believe live/d on Long Island (probably Nassau County).

SJS

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Sorry to hear this news.

 

[benp]

I always enjoyed the decoy Jedi master when he would have his work posted. I never had the privilege of meeting in person but I will miss his many contributions he gave to the community.

 

[Steven Alexander]

RIP Mr Williams.

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

This is very sad news indeed. I first met George many years ago at the Ohio Westlake decoy show. We soon became friends, and up until recently he would e - mail me photos of his latest works. His phone calls were just as animated as he was in person full of enthusiasm and passion. He was one heck of a artist and painter. He put on a slide show of his large abstract paintings one year at the Ohio show in the lobby. Afterwards he gave me some of the slides cuz he said that I appreciated his work. The man was One Of a Kind. The "Decoy Monster Machine". God, Family & Friends were his foundation. Waterfowling & Decoys were his obsessions. He was a teacher as well as a student always open to learning. I can go on and on with true stories about George but I will stop now... My eyes are filling with tears.

One of his drake Wigeon decoys from a pool 6 decoy rig is in our attic window for all to see and admire. His ART lives on proof he was here.

Rest easy my friend, and we shall meet in the Happy Hunting Ground.

 

[Michael Gardner]

My jaw hit the floor yesterday morning when I heard the news. Being a new carver George was very welcoming, really glad I went to Clayton this year and got to spend it with him and some other great guys!

 

[Eric Johnson]

I was very fortunate to meet George in the early 90's - 91 or 92 when I was traveling through Delaware each week for business.
I offered to buy some of his corks so he had me come over to see the dungeon and he would show me
George saw my interest in carving and offered to show me how he did it. Each week when I did an over nite in Dover I went to his house and watched. Did that for about 2 /3 years. I would bring my decoys to him and we would go over each one
Whenever I hunt over his birds I think of those many times in the dungeon and smile.
If you asked George a question you quickly learned he would give you his honest answer - whether you liked the answer or not
He really became a good friend and teacher and while I had not spoken to him for several years he holds a special place in my heart
I am sure he is in heaven trying to score some Wiley Cork for a species of South American teal he has a pattern for !
Thank You George Williams !

 

[roy brewington]

He was a character and will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.

I can only imagine the “finds” that will come out of his basement workshop aka “dungeon”.

Wonder if that urn was still down there he claimed had remains of a fella that the fella,s wife never picked up. That was quite the basement!

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

If it were possible his entire very small "Decoy Shop" should go to the Smithsonian Museum. At the very least his Paint Table. The man hand crafted more Decoys by mistake than most of us do on purpose. His Gunning Decoy Rigs are second to none. The interaction between each decoy in the rig was very well thought out. The interaction is Natural, not forced or overdone which is so common today to win contests. If George ever kept track of all the Decoys he created over so many years I'd sure like to know it. I know I asked him that at least once. He just kept getting better and better at it. No sign of decline for any reason, and that amazed the heck outta me.

 

[JasonM]

I did not know the man except for a little on here and The Refuge Forums. Always liked his decoys, very nice gunners that I'd have been glad to hunt over anytime.

Had he been sick or was it something sudden?

 

[jode hillman]

Georges obituary

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Georges obituary

Thank you Jode, much appreciated.

 

[jode hillman]

Thank you Jode, much appreciated.

I thought that was very well written and a great tribute to George. Kudos to whoever composed it.

 

[B Ballard]

This is very sad news indeed. I first met George many years ago at the Ohio Westlake decoy show. We soon became friends, and up until recently he would e - mail me photos of his latest works. His phone calls were just as animated as he was in person full of enthusiasm and passion. He was one heck of a artist and painter. He put on a slide show of his large abstract paintings one year at the Ohio show in the lobby. Afterwards he gave me some of the slides cuz he said that I appreciated his work. The man was One Of a Kind. The "Decoy Monster Machine". God, Family & Friends were his foundation. Waterfowling & Decoys were his obsessions. He was a teacher as well as a student always open to learning. I can go on and on with true stories about George but I will stop now... My eyes are filling with tears.

One of his drake Wigeon decoys from a pool 6 decoy rig is in our attic window for all to see and admire. His ART lives on proof he was here.

Rest easy my friend, and we shall meet in the Happy Hunting Ground.

Obi often reminisced about the days of high adventure in the Buckeye state hanging out with you and and the all the rabble rousers from across the fruited plane ,jousting with observations on everything from music to the recipe for black duck black.
Miss ya V , Peace, B