George R. Cocks

The phrase, "St. George and the dragon," evokes many thoughts and mental pictures: a knight in shining armor on a strong steed, a beautiful and mourning princess, a horrible dragon. In the story, St. George slays the dragon and saves the princess. I bear the name George as well; my full name is George Cocks. I am the third of that name and this paper is about my grandfather, the first George Cocks. My grandfather displays the qualities and character that I strive to achieve; he is a good husband, dad, and granddad. He had an outstanding military and medical career, is both humble and persevering, and wants to serve those around him.

My grandfather, Papa, is a man like no other. Let me list some of the qualities that he displays: humility, self-sacrifice, modesty, perseverance, sharing, brilliance, empathy, modesty, and athleticism. He has a giving, loving heart and he is happy to share his time, gifts, money, and abilities. He prays for me every day. When I asked my grandmother, Ruth Cocks, what his best quality is, she could not limit herself to one, but she did comment on his relationship with his patients; she said, "He treated old ladies like his mom, younger ones like his wife, and little ones like his own."

He took more time with each patient than most doctors take with three or four, and his patients appreciated it. He built relationships with each patient. In turn, they trusted him and asked him about anything that was troubling them, be it relationships, insurance, or politics; and the amazing fact is that he knew the answers. Once an insurance salesman showed up at his house, but when the salesmen found out whose house he was at, he told my grandmother "I don't need to tell you about this; your husband knows more about insurance than I do."

Doctor Cocks was the first neurologist in Alabama to set up a private practice. Neurologists talk to patients with brain problems in order to figure out exactly which part of their brain is malfunctioning, and then they tell the surgeon where and how to operate or prescribe medication. Some brain problems are genetic, and so my grandfather treated three generations in some families, which built even closer doctor-patient bonds. Papa frequently worked over 80 hours a week; yet never made half of the money that his contemporaries made because he spent so long with each patient. I had the opportunity to see the special bond he had with some of his patients when I helped plan and staff his surprise 50th anniversary party. Everyone was surprised when around 200 guests drove from Alabama to Georgia to honor him; some of these people had not seen him since he retired ten years before. The state was so appreciative of his services to the people of Alabama that in honor of his retirement the state legislature passed, and the governor signed, a resolution declaring George Cocks Day when he retired. They thanked him for his many years of selfless service and dedication.

Papa also served in the military during two wars. While a lieutenant colonel in the medical corps during the Korean War, he left for morning rounds at a hospital before breakfast started and came back after breakfast was over. He was hungry and asked the cooks for food on several occasions, but they said, "No"; finally, he decided to take action. He "inspected" the kitchen and, using his experience as an enlisted medic, found and cited the kitchen for so many health violations that it had to shut down. The next day the base commander showed up to find out what the problem was; when he realized the situation he chewed out the cooks, the kitchen reopened, and thereafter Papa always got his breakfast.

My grandfather also has a great sense of humor. While an enlisted medic he complained repeatedly to his supervisor about mice in the hospital, but she refused to let him solve the problem. As a joke, one night he caught over fifty of the little rodents, put them in a box, wrapped them nicely, and placed them on her desk. In another instance, when some of the nurses complained to him about his handwriting, he offered to enroll them in "Cock's Cram Course for Illiterate Nurses."

My grandmother told me that he was "a valiant defender of lost causes." He said she had coined that phrase herself and that it was not true, but then she reminded him that that phrase was written right below his name in his high-school yearbook. She went on to give an example of one of his lost causes. It was the homecoming game against his college's archrival and he had agreed to go to her house after the game, but when his college lost, he suddenly took off running toward the field instead of going with my grandma. Seeing that she did not understand what he was doing, he pointed at where the opposing team was swarming the goalposts and said, "To defend my boys!" When he showed up at my grandma's house a good bit later, he was sporting a big black eye.

My grandfather also had a distinguished military career. He always said, "The only lottery I ever won was the draft lottery." He was drafted in 1943 and he served until 1946. The military sent him to medical school in 1945 and he left the Army in 1946. Then he joined the Air Force as an officer in 1949 and stayed in until 1960. Even though he was the youngest medical officer in the Air Force, he climbed all the way to Lieutenant Colonel, the equivalent of a Coast Guard Commander. During his second period of service, he worked as a doctor in Japan while his wife, my grandmother, worked in a small stateside hospital for wounded veterans. Both of my grandparents gave up some of the best years of their lives together to serve our country.

Whether he was serving his country oversees, or serving as a doctor in his native Alabama, Papa was always a hard worker who was loyal to his friends, family, and wife. His work ethic brought him success wherever he worked, but he was never content to rest while there was another goal to achieve. He continues to serve and share his wisdom with others today. I am proud to bear his name and I hope to emulate his outstanding example.