Skip Granger
At an East High Class of 1960 reunion some time ago, I mentioned George Tiller, my friend from the Class of 1959. All hell broke loose! He was thought of by many of our classmates as ”Tiller, the Baby Killer.” Well, I beg to differ, and I plan to divulge ”the rest of the story” here and now!
Although I grew up in Kansas, and therefore was somewhat conservative when it came to politics (which is currently changing due to the present conditions), I have always been in favor of Roe v. Wade, not just as an attorney, but because I personally knew young ladies who died during the abortions available at that time. My feelings in that regard are enhanced by…. Well, that is not my story.
Rather, I want to tell you of my experiences with George in the summer of 1960. I knew George from attending Wichita High School East with him, plus going out with his sister, Dee. They lived on Pershing Circle in a very large home, and their father was a doctor. That was about all that I knew about the Tiller family at that time.
(Right, George Tiller, East High, 1959)
Fast forward to the summer after my graduation in 1960. After sharing a soft drink at the lake with the wrong lady, I suffered a summer of tiredness from acquiring mononucleosis. George became aware of my illness and came to our home each day to inquire about my health. My mother loved him (like most folks who knew him) and would send him upstairs to spend time with me. One of the things we talked about was life at KU, where George would be a sophomore and I was heading in the fall for my freshmen year.
Other KU fraternities spent money for fraternity rush, but time was more important, and George knew the value of friendship. I ultimately became a Sigma Nu, but he taught me much that I used in my five semesters as Rush Chairman. In fact, George was an important influence to many people!
Oh, dang. Who am I kidding? I am 81 years young and have little time left on this earth. I have to say what I feel at this point regardless of the consequences. George was an extremely good man who got caught up in a situation not of his own making. He was a man of religious conviction who was ultimately murdered by some radical conservative (Is there such a creature? Yes, too many!) in his own church while serving as an usher on Sunday morning.
As I recall, after medical school and serving in the armed forces,
George planned to begin his own medical practice. His parents flew to Colorado with his sister Dee and her husband in their private airplane. It crashed and could not be found for some time. All having perished in the crash, George was left with Dee’s small children to raise. Thus, he needed an immediate steady income. He took over his father’s medical practice, not knowing the full extent of his father’s services. As abortions were illegal in Kansas and thus kept quiet in those days, he was unaware that his father helped ladies 
in need of such services. George also became devoted to women’s health issues and carried on his father’s work.
I could continue for some time extolling George’s praises and listing the facts of his unfortunate demise, but that is not my story either. My sole hope here is to make the facts known and clear the name of this good and lawful family man, medical professional and provider of crucial services to some of the ladies in our land.
Amen! Rest in peace, George!
Candlelight Vigil for George Tiller, Boston, June 1, 2009
Remembering George Tiller
Becky Siebert Machacek – George was one of the finest men I have 
known. We were neighbors and grew up together and I continue to be devastated by his death. Women needed him then and need him even more now.
Your pictures bring back smiles of vacations where Sally (Paup) and I would meet up with the Tillers in Colorado and always spend some time together. In an earlier time George and I and Kilby Lightner, one of George’s dear friends, would spend time playing on the roundabout on Pershing and Lewis. Ahhhh, the memories.
Glenna Stearman Park – I did not have much of a personal relationship with George—except a party at his house and a party 
where he attended. George was always a very warm and friendly character. I remember that Helen Olson Jones was very sad when the murder happened. I think she went to the same church, and many of his colleagues were horrified by the violent murder and the justification by self righteous types. Good for you, Skip! There is another side to the Tiller story.
More About George Tiller
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tiller
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_George_Tiller
- https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1107244499/storycorps-remembering-a-murdered-doctor-who-performed-abortions
