Getting to Know your Neighbor: George “Buddy” York: Veteran, volleyball coach & martial artist

George “Buddy” York is the Belen High School volleyball coach, and retired earlier this year as the community service monitor for Belen Magistrate Court. He lives in Los Lunas with his wife, Jennifer. Their children are David, Kaila, Latayah, Timothy and Dorothy. He retired as a captain, having served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps from 1965-1981.

Q What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?

A “First of all, I think, ‘Am I doing the speed limit?’ Sometimes I seem to have a ‘heavy’ foot. Seems like I have got a lot of speeding tickets in my life. As I drive, I play music loud and drive with windows open, singing. My music taste ranges from country-western (‘60s and ‘70s), to the protest music of the Woodstock era in the ‘60s. Groups like The Kingston Trio, Creedance Clearwater, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, The Rolling Stones ...

“Sometimes I like to drive alone and look at the marvels that God created. I have seen sunrises and sunsets all over the world but the most beautiful are here in New Mexico. Long drives alone always seem to calm me from past unpleasant memories.”

Q What’s a myth about your profession you’d like to bust?

A “The misconception that soldiers and Marines are trained to kill. They are trained to protect themselves and others. I guess there might be some that say they enjoy killing other men, but I never saw any of them. I believe if I had a man in my unit that said he enjoyed killing, I would get rid of him immediately.”

Q What were you like in high school?

A “In high school, I was an average student. I was lucky enough to attend a small, rural school until the end of my junior year. My dad was the principal and, after my junior year, he got offered a position as assistant superintendent in a larger school.

“I was a good athlete and lettered in three sports — football, basketball and track. It was hard in some ways to leave a small school district and move in my senior year to a larger school but the change was easy because of athletics. I made many good friends there and parts of my family still reside there. When I graduated in 1964, I was offered a scholarship to play football at New Mexico State University.”

Q What is the best advice you’ve ever received and from whom?

A “I have received a lot of advice that I’ve considered the best, from people I’ve met in different occupations to athletes whom I have coached. But probable the best advice was from my dad the night before I left to go to Vietnam. He told me: a. Know your enemy and respect him; b. Never order anyone to do something that you wouldn’t do and; c. Lead from the front. People who have served in the military can relate to these more than anyone else.

“In the present. I get good advice from athletes I coach as to what is actually happening on the court. I know what should happen from the sideline, but they know the ‘heartbeat’ on the court and I rely on a lot of that information from my floor captains.”

Q What did you want to be when you grew up?

A “All I wanted to be since as early as I can remember was a soldier. My plans were as soon as I graduated high school I was going to enlist in the Army. But when I was offered a football scholarship to NMSU, I decided to go there.

“After two years at State, I realized that school wasn’t for me. I left State and went down to the recruiter and joined the Army. Then I went home and told my mom and dad what I had done. They knew from the beginning what I should have done but never pressured me.”

Q Who inspires you?

A “There have been many people who have inspired me, but I must say now ... it's the ladies who I have coached in volleyball at Belen Consolidated Schools. They inspire me every day, even during the off-season when I try to plan for the next year. Their desire and dedication amaze me. They never give up. They have made me a better person and a better coach.”

Q If you could work any other job for one day, what would it be and why?

A “At my age, I have done almost everything I have wanted to do, but there is still something that I have always wanted to do. I wanted to have a horse ranch where I could build a dormitory-style building, where wounded veterans and children with disabilities could come and get horse therapy.

“To me, that would be the best calling that I could imagine. I have to credit my horses with saving my life even though every once in a while, they like to buck me off. I must add that the ground is a lot harder now than it was years ago.”

PHOTOS: Asked & Answered: George "Buddy" York

Q What do you do in your free time?

A “I have to laugh at this question and ask, ‘What free time?’ I like to stay busy. I do some wood work. I enjoy working on my old car and truck. I have a million projects around the house to do ... maybe that’s why I keep busy. I enjoy going to antique shops, second-hand stores, flea markets and pawn shops.

“Sometimes I like to go to the Veterans Hospital in Albuquerque and talk to old veterans, especially World War II and Korea veterans. Not many of them are left these days. I had the honor of talking to some of the Navajo Code Talkers before they passed away. That was really interesting.”

Q What’s something about you most people don’t know?

A "Back when I was younger and more agile, I competed on a martial arts team that traveled overseas once a year for a tournament with seven countries. At the time, I held third-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate. My instructor was Al Tracy, who was trained by Ed Parker.”

Q What three books would you to take to a deserted island?

A “‘The Bible,’ ‘A Splendid Savage — Life of Frederick Russell Burnham,’ and ‘A General’s Life — Robert E. Lee.’”

Q You find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?

A “I would first of all try to find the person who lost it. If we could not find them, I would pay my tithing. Then I would clear up all my bills and help my entire family clear up their bills.

“I would then donate a large sum to the First Calvary Division scholarship fund in the name of the troopers I lost in Vietnam. Next, I would build a state-of-the-art gymnasium for sports at local schools. I would invest a portion but, most of all, I would keep coaching.”

Q Who is your best friend and why?

A “I guess I would have to say Jennifer, my wife, is my best friend. We have been through thick and thin but always come out back on top. She has lived through some rough times with me. Jennifer knows how to read me. She knows when to push and when to back off. We have a lot of fun together doing little things.”

Q What’s your favorite song to sing when you’re alone?

A “‘If You Got The Money Honey, I Got The Time.’ When my sister and I were little, we attended the same Sunday school class. Our assignment for the next Sunday was to learn a song and sing it for the next class. We lived in Tennessee and my dad would take me to watch the Grand Ole Opry.

“So, the next Sunday, my sister got up and sang, ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ When my time came, I got up and belted out, in Grand Ole Opry style, ‘If You Got The Money Honey, I Got The Time.’ Needless to say, my mother and sister were embarrassed but my dad and I were very pleased.’

Q Where is your happy place, and why?

A “My happy place is in my home. I have everything I could ever need or want here. All my books I enjoy reading. All my military memorabilia and there’s a well-stocked refrigerator with ice tea and RC Cola. And, plenty of love. Who could ask for more?’

Q Have you had a life-changing experience that led you to where you are today?

A “In 1969, somewhere in the jungles of Vietnam I nearly lost it. We had been out for a while and had several gun fights with the North Vietnamese. That night when we set up in a high defensive position, I just wanted out of there. I put my rifle up under my chin and tried to pull the trigger but my rifle wouldn’t fire. I checked to see if the safety was off and it was so I tried again. Nothing. I checked again to see if there was a round in the chamber. There was. Once again, I tried but nothing.

"I realized then that something or someone didn’t want me to get out that way. After that night, I never got that low again. My life was changed that night and all I wanted to do from then to now is succeed in whatever I tried. That still holds true for me today. Whenever I get down, I think about that dark, lonely night in the jungle.”

Q What teacher had the greatest impact on you?

A “I would have to say it was coach W. A. Wise. Coach Wise was my football coach during my senior year in high school. He was the old type of coach who didn’t tell you how to do something. He showed you. If you didn’t do it right, he would line up across from you and beat you until you could understand how it was done. He was also a no nonsense history teacher who made government seem exciting.”

Q What is your favorite movie scene and why?

A “‘Hoosiers.’ I love the scene where Hackman, as the head coach, tells the referee to throw him out of the game. He did this so his assistant, who had alcohol problems and was recovering, had to take over the team. He did it because he wanted his assistant to gain confidence in himself.”

Q If you could have dinner with one famous person – dead or alive – who would it be and why?

A “Gen. Jonathan Wainwright. I would like to ask him about Corregidor and about the Americans who had to survive the Bataan Death March. Two of my relatives were captured there and had to endure the Death March. I remember them talking about it with my dad but, as a youngster, it didn’t seem important."

Q What are you most proud of?

A “My children. They grew up with a lot of dangerous things out there. They all have done extremely well. They got a good education and all are in business helping others — from teachers to paramedics to filmmakers. They are my pride and joy, even if sometimes they forget.”

Q How would you like to be remembered?

A “As a man who loved life, loved his family and his God. A man who loved his country. A man who always tried to do right and never hurt anyone on purpose. A man who always respected women and old folks. (No, I’m not old!)