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ProfileGeorge McCrory, University Relations
George McCrory is an associate editor in University News Services, where he is responsible for media relations for the Tippie College of Business and several other campus entities. McCrory also serves as site manager for The University of Iowa’s annual exhibit in the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fair. He works with the UI State Fair Board, meeting monthly throughout the year to plan the exhibit, and in August, heads to the State Fairgrounds in Des Moines for the big event. About 130 UI faculty, staff, students, and alumni have volunteered this year to staff the University’s State Fair booth. The booth was built and designed by Jerry Best and Diana Brayton of the graphics department in the University’s Center for Media Production. The booth will feature 19 exhibits on faculty and staff projects, as well as a display about the University’s economic development efforts. Before heading out for his fifth tour of duty, McCrory sat down with fyi to talk about his role as the University’s frontman at the fair and to let us in on a few little-known secrets. For instance, did you know that not all fair food is fried? You first took on the role of University of Iowa State Fair Site Manager in 2002. How has your job and life changed? My job is a lot different because planning the State Fair exhibit takes up the whole summer and a significant amount of time during the spring semester. That also means my family has had to adjust since there’s no time for a summer vacation. What is good/bad about being the site manager? Good: I get to meet Iowans from every corner of the state and hear what they’re thinking about the University—what their impressions are. I also get to meet people from all around campus—students, faculty, staff. There are husbands and wives and groups of coworkers who volunteer to work together on the same shift, and that’s fun to see. Also, it’s the ultimate public relations work—direct contact with Iowans we’d like to reach with University of Iowa messages. Bad: The long hours—we have to staff our exhibit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for 11 straight days. And whenever you’re there you have to be “on”—greeting people, answering questions, listening to stories (and sometimes complaints), keeping the supplies of posters, brochures, and tattoos stocked. It’s pretty exhausting. What’s the most unexpected thing that ever happened on the job at the fair? Last summer, I spent hours running around trying to track down a lost portfolio that one of our exhibitors accidentally left on the Shriner cart that she rode from the parking lot to Varied Industries Building. It was so crazy trying to figure out which cart she’d been on out of all the carts carrying people back and forth. Also, there was a woman who tried to steal a picture of Kinnick Stadium from one of the exhibit walls. She was apparently a bit drunk and belligerent, and we had to ask her to leave. How many corn dogs do you eat during the 11 days of the fair? Just one—I try not to eat the same thing twice. I don’t eat any deep fried candy or Twinkies because there’s enough other stuff there to upset your stomach. Toward the end of the fair, I do get burned out and tend to eat off site. What do you do to get through the long days and exhausting schedule? Wear shoes with arch supports. Vary the hours I’m there. Spend time in different parts of the exhibit, not just behind the information counter. Take a break in the storage area (keeping the materials organized). Are there any “secrets of the fair” we should know about? There is some healthy food at the fair—a place called the Salad Bowl on the second level of the Ag Building. The last day of the fair (Aug. 20 this year) is the best time to see everything because it’s not nearly as crowded. You can find some free food samples—the best is the Blue Bunny ice cream in the Commercial Exhibits Building. Okay, now tell us about yourself and your “regular” job in University Relations. I came to The University of Iowa because I wanted to return to my home state and work in a university setting doing public relations. I’d been in California since graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, but once we had kids, my wife and I thought Iowa would be a better place to live. Describe your greatest day on campus. Just before the 2004 Iowa Caucuses CNN came to campus for the day, and it was amazing. I arranged for Professor George Neumann [economics in the Tippie College of Business] to be a guest on [the CNN television show] Crossfire and got to meet [CNN host] Tucker Carlson. CNN parked their bus on the T. Anne Cleary Walkway, and the anchors and guests sat outside on tall directors chairs during the live program. The same day, Rob Reiner and Martin Sheen were in town stumping for Howard Dean, and I got to meet them in the Hamburg Inn, where they ate breakfast. Also, since it was January, it happened to be about the coldest day of the entire winter, and I was running around outside all day. It was exhausting but rewarding. On my day(s) off, you'll most likely find me watching and/or coaching my kids’ sports teams. In the winter, I also like to spend time cross-country skiing. My colleagues would be surprised to know that I got an early start in fairs by exhibiting hogs with 4-H and FFA at the Cass County Fair while in high school. What are some of your favorites? Food (at the fair): Dutch letters Drink (at the fair): Red Bull smoothie (energy to get through the long days!) Weekday Iowa City lunch spot: Pizza on Dubuque Book: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving Music: 1980s new wave/punk Movie: Office Space Television show: Nip/Tuck Web site: RSS news feeds Sports team: Green Bay Packers and West Branch Bears by Mary Geraghty Kenyon Recent ProfilesJoni Troester, Human Resources Mike Wilson, Manager of Fleet Services
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