After 15 years (2022 Raleigh Festival), the South Cows team decided it was time for a team name change: introducing George's Trailblazers. We wanted a team name that reflected our passion and commitment to the bleeding disorders community. When we thought about our inspiration, George McCoy immediately came to mind.
Born with hemophilia, George was instrumental in establishing the chapter back in the 1970s and was always an advocate for persons with disabilities. In 1987, he volunteered to be the first person in the world to receive a recombinant DNA clotting factor to control bleeding that was free of blood-borne viruses. When he retired from state service in 2005, he was awarded the Order of the Magnolia from the Director of the Department of Human Resources, and The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Governor. In 2012, he traveled to Paris, France to attend the World Federation of Hemophilia and addressed the conference about his experience as a pioneer in the treatment of hemophilia. In August 2017, he was awarded the Dick James Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Hemophilia Foundation.
Along the way, George was an inspiration and mentor to so many people – all in service to the bleeding disorders community. Sadly we lost George in 2017 but his light continues to burn bright as new trails are blazed!