August 23, 2018 – West Bend, WI – Diving into the archives while researching Timmer’s Resort and George Prescott and came upon this gem from Around the Bend, May 29, 2010.
George Prescott presents lessons in Parkinson’s Around the Bend May 29, 2010 By Judy Steffes
George Prescott made a guest appearance at the Boys & Girls Club last Friday to give kids an education on Parkinson’s disease.
The children at the club hosted a nickel carnival and all proceeds were donated to a Parkinson’s charity in honor of Prescott.
The former owner and chief executive officer of Prescott Supermarkets, Inc. and current owner of Timmer’s Resort on Big Cedar Lake is a strong supporter of the local Boys & Girls Club.
Prescott spoke for about 15 minutes, talking about when he first received the diagnosis in 2001.
“My wife would bug me because my left arm had no control. I initially blamed it all on an old motorcycle accident but then the doctor told me I had Parkinson’s,” said Prescott.
Children at the Club, who ranged in age from 7 to 11, asked a variety of questions and Prescott’s answers were simple but direct. “I take 15 to 20 pills a day,” he said, “some supplements, others medication.”
Prescott talked about exercising and getting down on the ground with a foam roller. “It’s mostly on my left side and I’m right-handed, but I can tell it’s starting to affect my penmanship.”
Prescott spoke briefly about the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Few youngsters in the room were familiar with Fox. Prescott mentioned how Fox’s tremors were so bad his children would call him ‘shaky daddy.’
Other questions ranged from ‘does it hurt’ to ‘do you tilt?’ One little girl asked his name, to which Prescott responded confidently, “I’m George. George the grocer.”
Another asked how old he was. “I’m 62 and going to be 63 in September. How old are you and when is your birthday?” he asked the little girl.
Then about 80 hands went into the air; everybody wanted to tell Prescott their birthday.
A couple of final questions had students naming other people afflicted with Parkinson’s. One little boy said Hitler, another mentioned Johnny Cash and then proceeded to sing Cash’s “Cry Cry Cry” in about as deep of a baritone as a 7-year-old boy can muster.
Then a final question, “Are you rich?” said a little voice from the back of the room. Prescott played it cool and said he was wealthier than average and “yes I have a bit of money.”
After receiving dim stares he humbly said he was a millionaire. A boy in the back of the room shouted in wry fashion and with an innocence of youth, “Oh yeah, RIGHT!”
Prescott, who arrived without an entourage, earring or body art – some of the standards held by trendy, higher profile millionaires – took the comment in stride.
He then opened his wallet and donated a crisp $100 bill to the nickel carnival.
After the Q&A, club director Jay Fisher joked with Prescott.
“We start ‘em young here at the Boys & Girls Club, George – ‘How old are you and how much are you worth.’”