BY CURT RADABAUGH 

The most common and often question I’m asked is, “Why did you decide to portray George Washington?”  The answer I give can’t be summed up in just a short one sentence answer. 

To give the detailed answer I must start with my early childhood.  When I was just a youngster and living in Southern Ohio, I had a love for the outdoors and the local history.  At first, I pretty much concentrated and focused on the Native American History of the area, with the Shawnee Indians and the conflicts during the time frame of 1750-1814.  As I increased in age and was exposed to a widening view while attending school, my interests naturally expanded to include our Colonial America and Founding Father History.   

While living in Southern Ohio, like many other kids, I would run through the hills and fields imagining it was a different time and different way of life.  If I wasn’t searching through fields along the Scioto River looking for arrowheads, etc. I would imagine what the world looked like without blacktop roads and modern conveniences.  I would imagine pioneer families making their way into the wilderness from the Colonies, trying to survive and make a home for themselves…and why they would risk life and limb to do it.   

As my curiosity of our American History increased, I read more books regarding our country’s founding.  Who were the key players?  Who were the men and women that were making the sacrifices and making it possible?  Who were the great minds behind our founding documents, behind the formation of our government?  Who were the patriots that decided to go against the most powerful military in the world, to stand up against tyranny?  Who were those men and women that ‘pledged their lives, their fortunes, and sacred honor’ to bring about the United States of America? 

Over time, I came to recognize that one person always seemed to be in the thick of every conversation regarding our history, that being of course George Washington.  I discovered, just as countless other historians, teachers, scholars, etc have done over the many years since our American Revolution, he was the Indispensable Man! 

What drew me to him even more and why I hold him in such high regard (as I believe we all should) of course was his sense of duty and service.  At the early age of 11, he lost his father and was denied a formal education in England like his older brothers had received.  He received a basic education at home.  During his life, he aspired to be a sailor (which his mother stopped), he taught himself the skills of being a surveyor; he volunteered and served in the Virginia Militia (reaching the rank of Colonel); he was elected a Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and served in that capacity for many years…he placed community and country first.  He was a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress (1774-1775).  He was appointed by Congress in 1775 to be the Commanding General of the Continental Army…and during the next 8 years sacrificed greatly for the Glorious Cause of our American Freedom…ultimately winning the War of Independence! 

In 1783, he resigned and returned his military commission to Congress.  America’s Cincinnatus wanted to go home.  He desired to retire to Mount Vernon, to be what he loved, a planter/farmer and be at peace under his own ‘vine and fig tree’.  But it was not to be, again his country came calling and he was elected to be President of the Constitutional Convention in 1787.  The great leaders of our country realized that the Articles of Confederation (brought about during the Revolution) were not working, and that the country was at risk of falling apart.  Under the leadership of Washington, great minds like Madison, Franklin, Hamilton and so many others, in the hot sweltering summer months of May thru September of 1787, brought to being the United States Constitution.  It was ratified in 1788…and became our governing document – still to this day, with 27 added amendments!   

After the convention, Washington went home again to his beloved Mount Vernon…but again not for long.  For his country had determined that only he could be the first President of the United States.  Unanimously elected, on April 30, 1789, he was sworn into office.  He would remain for two terms and return to Mount Vernon in 1797, after handing over the reins of government to his successor John Adams.  His life of peace and retirement as a farmer was short lived, he died in 1799. 

As I stated, George Washington’s life was a life of duty and service to his country.  His history, which is our history, is one to be honored, respected, and retained.  I sincerely believe, without George Washington, there would be no United States. 

For these reasons, my love of history and wanting to see it preserved, protected, and not cancelled, I started down my path of portraying George Washington. 

In my pursuit of Washington, I have acquired a personal library (my refuge) of over 12,000 books, the vast majority being American History (with a concentration on Founding Fathers, American Revolution, George Washington). 

I at first didn’t have any intention of portraying General Washington, I was just wanting to figure out a way I could keep him alive in the hearts and minds of our kids, both young and old.   

After a career in the United States Marine Corps and as a Law Enforcement Officer, I became a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Instructor at my family’s Truck Driving Academy in 2014.  Over the years that followed as being the main classroom instructor, I would somehow include and ask questions of the American Founding during the day that somehow related to subject matter.  I would be disheartened when most of the questions couldn’t be answered…basic questions about our founding, the founding fathers, government, etc. – history, in my opinion, that every American citizen should know.  Even more disturbing, was when I was told by kids recently out of high school that they hadn’t been taught these things in school.  How is that possible?   

So, in early 2022, I decided I would become a Living History Interpreter and that I would be George Washington.  There was no second thought on who I would portray…I don’t look like an Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, etc…and even if I had, I’d still want to be Washington.  I do have some similarity to Washington in looks.  No, I’m not 6’3”, I fall short at being just 6 feet tall (but add another inch with the help of the heels on my boots).   

Next, I had to find someone that would put me together a uniform.  I didn’t want a cheap knockoff costume store uniform; I wanted a professionally made one.  If I was going to portray General Washington…it had to be right!  Searching the internet, I came across an individual by the name of Carl Closs, he had been a schoolteacher that retired early and had portrayed General Washington for many years, finally retiring from that adventure also in his late 70’s.  Carl and I had many conversations over the phone, and I had travelled to his home near Philadelphia to meet him in person.  He sold me his sword, gorget, and blue sash that he had worn as part of his Washington uniform.  Carl recommended a seamstress that had made his uniform…Lori Beasley.  Lori started American Heritage Clothing in 1974, designing and sewing for Hollywood, museums, and working for reenactors for nearly 50 years.  I’ve had several uniforms made by her now, and they are fantastic! 

So, I obtained the uniform, boots, sword, tricorn hat, and other essentials needed for a good presentation.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have the hair, another obstacle to overcome. So, I had a professional wig made (yes, I know Washington didn’t wear a wig) that was in the design of Washington’s hair.  Why, you ask didn’t I just grow my hair out?  Well, when I started this adventure at the age of 58, my hair was very short (remember, I’m prior Marine and law enforcement, we didn’t have long hair) …and my wife was not thrilled at all with the idea of me having long gray hair.  But, several months ago I was able to convince my wife that my own longer hair would make my portrayal more genuine and as of the writing of this article (April 2024), I have grown out my hair and done away with the wig.  (BTW…when I can talk her into it, my wife will occasionally portray Martha for me) 

Now, I have the uniform, the hair…I’m dressed and looking like George Washington but with nowhere to go!  The first thing I did was get on Facebook and do a search for George Washington.  I came across the posting of an event, scheduled for August 26th-28th, 2022 in Waterford, PA.  The Fort LeBoeuf Historical Society was celebrating the George Washington Statue Centennial (1922-2022).  This was a rededication of a statue depicting a young 21-year-old Major George Washington delivering a letter (from Virginia Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie) to the French Commander at Fort LeBoeuf (in 1753) demanding they leave the area, that the land belonged to the British.  In the comments section of that posting, I simply stated that “I would like to put on my George Washington uniform and attend that event”.  Within minutes I received responses from members of the Historical Society asking if I could do that.  So, with some contributions from friends and family, I had the funds for hotel accommodations, etc., attended the event and had the most incredible time.  I met so many diverse history loving people, historical and veterans’ groups, and started making some connections. 

Shortly before attending that event, I had taken a fall on a steep hill while weed eating around my wife’s and my cabin…unbeknownst to me at the time, a bone fragment had somehow lodged against my spine and was impacting the nerves.  After the appearance in Waterford, PA, my condition steadily deteriorated to the point that I couldn’t stand for long or walk more than a few feet without major pain and cramps; there was no denying that there was a major physical issue.  Due to this, I had to cancel another major appearance opportunity in Pennsylvania and had to have surgery.  The surgery was successful, and I was immediately up and walking with no issue.   

Since the fall of 2022, I have had many appearances at schools, numismatic conventions, libraries, etc….and continue to make more contacts in my endeavor to keep George Washington’s history alive.  My hope is that as we enter the 250th Anniversary of our American Revolution and Founding that I am constantly busy travelling the country and being a part of Living History!  I am having the time of my life portraying the Indispensable Man!  I’ve had great feedback and hope to continue to improve and grow my performance.  Nothing would please me more than to be able to dedicate myself full-time to travelling and portraying Washington.  Whenever I see a child’s face light up when I enter a classroom or auditorium at a school or engage in a great conversation about the Father of Our Country, there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.  It is truly an honor!   

During this time, I have met many other Living History Interpreters/Reenactors.  Two of which, Patrick McBride (Benjamin Franklin) and Dennis Boggs (Abraham Lincoln) have been great mentors and have become great friends.  I appear regularly with them at Numismatic Shows/Conventions (PAN, ANA, etc). I hope to meet many more Living History Interpreters as I travel around this great country of ours. 

When I portray/teach about George Washington, I portray the man as he was…all of him.  Every aspect of his life is discussed…the good with the bad.  After all, as he said so himself, ‘he was still only a man.’ 

Feel free to contact me through Facebook at Curt Radabaugh or Experience George Washington.

I hope to see you as George Washington down the road… remember… he was… 

“FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, AND FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN”