Thanks, George!

It was with mixed emotion that I read the article in this morning's Daily Home. A similar article appeared in the Birmingham News.

Congratulations to George Culver on being named Executive Director of the Birmingham Children's Theatre. This is a huge honor for anyone, and George is certainly very deserving of it.

George Culver has been a true friend of this school system. I have lost count of the number of times he has brought performers to the Ritz and then found some way to include our schools, and do at no cost to us. Some years ago I received a grant application for the highly-competitive Arts Pilot Project. It was through the guidance and wisdom of George Culver and Tommy Moorehead that we were able to write one of only six grants in the state to be funded. Ironically, the arts in-service with Mary Foshee to be held tomorrow, a program which will involve all of our elementary teachers, can be traced back to George.

Our challenge is to make sure that what George Culver began a decade ago does not wither, but instead continues to grow and continues to serve as one of those points of light for our school system and for our city.