George Holmes: A Life of Public Service

About George

Experienced leader committed to serving Hamburg with integrity and dedication.

I grew up in a small town in Carbon County. In my youth, my two main activities were playing football and hunting. I developed a love for the outdoors. My family couldn't afford to send me to college, so I joined the Army in 1989 for two years, serving as a tanker in the 1st Cavalry Division. I deployed with my unit in 1990 to Saudi Arabia, in preparation for the Persian Gulf War. My unit, 1-5 Cavalry, was the first mounted unit to enter Iraq. Upon leaving the Army, I went to college at St. Joseph's University, earning my bachelor's degree in International Relations and then my Masters in Business Administration. After college, I worked for the International Banking Dept. of CoreStates Bank. My career as a banking analyst sent me throughout the Middle East to meet with senior management of financial institutions.

I continued to serve in the military in college, joining the Army Reserves and then the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. In 2004, our unit deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, as part of the Iraq Survey Group, searching for weapons of mass destruction. Our unit also participated in the first battle of Falluja and guarded high-value detainees, including Saddam Hussein. I deployed with my men to Afghanistan, serving as an infantry platoon sergeant and led 42 ground convoy missions across Paktika in the three months I was there. On June 18, 2008, we returned from a community engagement mission to Combat Outpost Zerok, when we were attacked by rocket artillery fire. A rocket landed inside a building not five feet from me- the two Navy men to my left were killed immediately- and myself and six others were severely wounded. After emergency surgery, a medically-induced coma, and respiratory arrest on three occasions, I made my way back to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for eight months of recovery, followed by three years’ rehabilitation back home, before being medically retired from the Army after 22 years of military service.

I came to Hamburg with my wife to open a business, a small but thriving Bed & Breakfast that brings visitors to Hamburg from as far as Sydney, Australia. We help make it possible for friends and family to come home to Northern Berks. We became involved in the community from the outset, first by joining the Borough Planning Committee and local VFW, then running for elected office as Mayor. I was also appointed as Constable in 2019 to fill an empty position. From the start of my first term as Mayor, we weathered a flood, a pandemic, bringing on a new Police Chief and Borough Manager, and negotiating several police contracts. On public safety, the police have investigated, arrested, and convicted criminals for every major felony committed in the Borough. 

My public service continues as Chief Deputy Coroner of the Berks County Coroner's Office, directly reporting to the Coroner and acting in his absence. This position helps to further enhance my understanding of what our citizens face in their daily lives. I also interact with local and state organizations, both public and private, to work on issues confronting the Borough. Most recently, I became a Borough Representative for the Community Advsiory Board of the Center of Excellence for Local Government (CELG), hosted by Alvernia University and a great source of information among Berks County's 73 muncipalities.

Combat Veteran

Been there, done that. Got the T-shirt. Several times..