TLC Logistics Management

Dedicated Father Travels Long Distances for the Love of his Baseball-Playing Sons

In this month's Newsletter we are pleased to bring you a heart-warming article that appeared in the Fontana Herald News, about one of our drivers, George Curtis. Regina Frank, TLC's Senior Transportation Supervisor, shared this interesting information about George Curtis. George joined TLC last year and has over 10 years of commercial driving experience. He has been a loyal and dedicated employee since he started with TLC and has received frequent positive feedback from our client GAF, who he is currently driving for. George is a dedicated father, and spends quality time with his two talented sons, who are collegiate baseball players. George can usually be found driving to one of his son's baseball games in his classic red Ford Ranchero. George Curtis' supervisor, Bill Hartenstine is mentioned and this true story really reinforces the strength of the "TLC family!"

If George Curtis could only conquer his fear of flying, he'd probably have accrued a lifetime of frequent flier miles. But instead of boarding a 747 to destinations such as the University of Arizona, Arizona State or all the other Pac-10 schools, Curtis settles behind the wheel and drives.

All for the love of watching his sons, Jermaine, and Tauren, play baseball.

Jermaine starts at third base for the UCLA Bruins, while Tauren starred for the Citrus Belt League co-champions, the Fontana A.B. Miller Rebels.

"Flying does not agree with me," said Curtis with his engaging laugh. But he doesn't mind the hours behind the wheel. It's time well spent. Bonding time, he calls it.

Just a few weeks ago, George and Tauren drove to Tempe, Arizona to watch Jermaine play. "It's so much fun to spend that time together with them," he said.

Jermaine had other college baseball options, but he chose UCLA so dad could attend his games. "It's a comforting feeling having my dad at my games," said Jermaine. "UCLA's close, it was one of my big considerations so he could come to my games."

No, George isn't one of those controlling fathers living his baseball dreams through his sons. He played his baseball in Louisiana.

Times were different back then. No Little League, and no fancy bats, gloves and balls. Just a broom handle and rolled-up socks. Street ball, he calls it. And on a good day, some kid might show up with a scuffed-up rubber ball.

"We started out as kids playing with a rolled-up sock for a ball and a broom handle for a bat," he said. "We played all the time. We had great times playing street ball."

When he was old enough, he tried out for the high school team and made the cut. The left-handed hitting ninth grader appeared to have an emerging career as a shortstop.

But times were tough and his mom needed help. So Curtis quit school and went to work to help support his mom and two sisters. His baseball career was cut short.

But life has a way of evening out. Though denied a playing career, the 60-year-old got something even better: the chance to watch four sons play and love the sport as much as he does.

First came George Curtis Jr., who played at Fontana High School. Then his stepson, Orlando Nettles, played at Miller. And now there's 19-year-old Jermaine and 17-year-old Tauren, who both wore Miller uniforms.

"One of the best things about dad, is we didn't get pushed too hard, just enough to get us where we are today," said Jermaine.

George told Jermaine and Tauren years ago that if they got tired of baseball, they should come talk to him and not play because dad wants them to, he said. "I told them if you ever get tired of baseball, let daddy know and we'll sit down and talk about it and they can rest for awhile," he said.

Should the Bruins make it to the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Tauren and dad plan to pack up and head for Omaha to watch Jermaine play.

"If they make it, we're going," said Tauren. George chuckled, winced and said: "I don't know for sure; it's expensive, but we probably will go."

Tauren said he enjoys traveling with his dad. The trips are never too long or boring. They talk about life, school, baseball and anything that might be bothering him.

"I'm really close to my dad for a lot of reasons," he said. "If we didn't have baseball, he'd still be the same guy he is."

Both Jermaine and Tauren starred at Miller, with Jermaine batting in front of Tauren -- Jermaine the senior, Tauren then a sophomore. "We are close as brothers," said Jermaine. "We do everything together."

And if Jermaine "messes up" in the ball game, "he will tell me the truth about it," laughed Jermaine.

Some of George's fondest times were spent in the front yard with his boys. "The boys and I loved playing together at home," he said. "I pitched wiffleballs to them and got beat up so much I've got scars."

BOTH Jermaine and Tauren began playing Little League and travel ball at about age five. And soon the long distance trips started to Oklahoma, Texas, St. Louis, Minnesota, Arizona, and Mexicali, Mexico.

"I drove twice to Oklahoma," he said. "The only place I didn't go was Florida; it was too long a drive, and I wasn't going to fly."

Keeping this hectic schedule requires an understanding boss. "My supervisor, Bill Hartenstine, makes it possible," said George.

Hartenstine arranges George's time off around Jermaine and Tauren's baseball schedules. He does it willingly because of George's commitment to his sons.

"He's really proud of his sons and supports them," said Hartenstine. "He's never pushed them. They love baseball, so he's there for them, but he lets them live their own lives. I've never met Jermaine or Tauren, but if they're cut out like their dad, they'll be fine whether they go on in baseball or not. I'd take 20 more like George. It would make my job easy."

The mileage continues to add up. UCLA is in the NCAA playoffs and last weekend won the regional championship at Long Beach State, with Jermaine capturing the Most Valuable Player award.

"He was like the little spark for them and hit a home run," said George. Did he miss any games? "No," he said chuckling, "Me and Tauren were there for all three games. We drove back and forth."

But it was a bit hectic. With the high school season over, Tauren joined the Orange County Shockers travel team.

So the two of them jumped out of bed at 6:30 a.m. and were on the road at 7 for Tauren's doubleheader with the Shockers at Orange Coast College. And then back in the car for hurried trip to Long Beach to catch Jermaine's game at 6. "We didn't get home until midnight," said George. "And we do this pretty much every weekend, and have been doing it for a long time."

The Shockers have a tournament in Tempe, Arizona later this month. Will George be there?

"Dad will be there, I hope," said Tauren. "He's always been there to support me. He'd rather be at our games than anywhere else."

At the end of Jermaine's day, when baseball practice is finished and the books are put away, he reaches for the phone and calls his dad. "We usually talk every night," he said. "I make sure he's doing well, and he makes sure I'm doing well. Just having him there to talk to is a big stress reliever. I love my dad. I'm just as proud of him as he is of me."

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