George Vondriska

Meet George Johnson: Master Carver

George Vondriska
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George’s friend George Johnson stops by the shop to swap stories about the Boy Scouts, George’s dad and woodcarving.

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I am really glad to have George Johnson in the shop with me today, who's been a friend'a my family's since when George, forever. Well, I think I first knew your dad in about '46, when I got out of service. 18 or 19? Yeah. And, he was Quality Control Manager at the South Chicago Mill.

At the big G, General Mills. Yes, and I went down there to, I don't remember just what now, a start up of something and that's where I first met him. And a lot of people have asked me, where did my woodworking come from? What was I influenced by? And George Johnson is a big part of that.

He was a very active Scout Master for 35 years, right? Yeah, somethin' like that. And I grew up in Chicago, George was up in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and I'd spend many of my summers up here with George and his scout troop. He spent so much time with those kids.

We went to National Jamborees and Philmont and Scout Camp. And so with woodworking, George is a carver. And the stuff that he's got laying here in front of him, these are all items he's carved, plus stuff that would cover this table three or 400 times, I think. He's been carvin' a long time. And the thing that he's fidgeting with there, what is it you have there George?

That is so cool. It's a Boy Scout knife. It's a Boy Scout, okay. My first whittling knife, first whittling tool. First whittling tool and you've had that since when?

Oh, 35, 36. Not years, but 19, right? 1935. Since 1935. When George brought it out earlier, I said, I'm amazed you still have it because I'm afraid I've lost more pocket knives probably than I could count on a couple'a hands.

So that's amazing that you still have that. So this was my, I don't know opportunity, my platform to introduce George to everybody and explain a little bit about woodworking influence and a little bit of my crazy sense of humor, which people who have seen the videos have seen probably more of than they care to see. Also a big rub off from George here. So any, anything you want to tell the people? Any embarrassing stories about me you wanna tell the folks at home?

No, I don't. I wouldn't do a thing like that. Not too often anyway, all right. Again, just thrilled to have George here. He's been given us some good carving advice and I'm really happy that you get a chance to meet him.

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