I flew to Las Vegas on the first anniversary of 9-11. National Airlines offered a deal for $1 flights and I thought I would go if George was performing. He was, so I went. I was the editor of my college paper and talked my way backstage where I interviewed George and made this photo.

It was one of the greatest moments of my life. A year latter he was in Milwaukee, my hometown, and we met up again and he signed a couple of prints include on of us. Truly great. I saw him live three times and will forever remember it all.

He has been my hero since long before my mother wanted him to be. I have original sealed LPs, the A Place for My Stuff cassette that started it all for me and dozens of CDs and DVDs.

While I hate to lose his genius, the good thing that will come from his death is all the ‘never before' DVDs that will hopefully get produced of his material on the Tonight Show and other hidden gems.