A Full Life – George Simchuk
George Simchuk was the oldest of six children, and was born in rural Washington. He graduated from Cheney High School and then from Washington State with a BS in mining engineering. His skills have been developed through the many jobs he has held. Simchuk had two sons during the 1960s, and he enjoyed seeing them become just as successful as he was, despite the fact that his marriage failed. Both sons graduated from Washington University with science degrees and were able to pursue work in a related field.
Simchuk first worked at the Anaconda Company in Chile as shift foreman, and then chief engineer. After five years here, he became chief engineer at San Francisco based Utah International. He later became manager of mining services, a position in which he was able to use the skills he had learned up to then, and the job required him to maintain the company’s technical services in Australia and the Americas. Simchuk became a mine manager for the Uranium Mine in Colorado, after Utah International had been taken over by GE. Once the uranium industry went into decline, Simchuk looked for other opportunities and became mine manager at Wyoming’s Pathfinder Mines. He became manager of operations and then CEO and president, before retiring from the company in 1993.
In 1997, he was back working again, having been offered the position of general manager and vice president of Panamanian Gold Operations, and his responsibilities included fixing errors previously made. Because of the decrease in the gold market, he was forced to retire a second time, and spent the time traveling in East Africa. While traveling in Africa, Simchuk realized a lifelong ambition by climbing Kilimanjaro, and he also found time to participate in a safari. While traveling, Simchuk lived a simple life and only returned to the US when his money ran out.
On his return, he became general manager of Glamis Gold, overseeing their Mexico operation. Among his other achievements, he helped with a development in Zacatecas and once this was completed, he returned to the US to volunteer. The volunteer job was that of flying a single engine aircraft for Tanzania’s flying medical service, and Simchuk helped to provide medical supplies for sick children. Once this assignment was completed, he worked with cancer victims.
Simchuk also worked with Challenge Air, a nonprofit organization that transports cancer patients by air. While there, one of his fondest memories is that of allowing a young boy named Caleb to fly the plane. This experience is something that both of them would remember all their lives. George Simchuk has also been involved with Lighthawk, a nonprofit organization that works at helping protect the environment in Central America, and this also allows him to indulge his love of flying. In addition, he enjoys trkking and volunteering, as well as a passion for life in general.
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