Senator, civic leader, historian
George Lovic Pierce Radcliffe (1877 – 1974) was a two-term United States Senator from Maryland, President of the Maryland Historical Society for twenty-five years, Maryland Chairman of the March of Dimes for thirty-four years, a friend to both Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, a noted historian, and lifelong civic leader.
Stories of Adventure…
From watching a first-grade classmate drop into the “fires of hell” to battling trolls, Brussels sprouts, and fifty miles of toilet paper, George Radcliffe remembers and reflects on a remarkable and lovingly spirited family growing up in the 1950s.
As the lone survivor of that family of six, he recounts their often-hilarious exploits in a series of stories that will make you laugh and cry but leave you with memories of a unique and close family.
Misadventures of Rodney the Bear
Coming Fall 2025
Coming soon is the long-awaited adventures of Rodney the Bear, a collection of stories for children of all ages. Unbeknownst to most, there is a remarkable group of teddy bears living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Visible only to children and adults retaining their childlike imagination, they inhabit Ursidae Lane, where Tallulah and Stanley manage a home for orphan bears, all rescued from the Island of Forgotten Bears. Rodney and his friends have a knack for mischief, while famous scientist/inventor Cool Breeze lives next door with another colorful group.
More Stories of Adventure…
In this sequel to Growing Up in Oz, George continues to share memorable stories from his early years growing up in what he calls a “lovingly dysfunctional family.” As the lone survivor of that remarkable family of six, he finds the humor and joy in his struggles in progressing from childhood to early adulthood remembering: diving into a spaghetti-filled dumpster, the rocking chair that would not die, winning the lottery that no one wanted to win, the ultimate wedding clothing malfunction, his living necktie, and a disastrous first year of teaching.
In Return to Oz, George shares humorous and sometimes poignant stories about his descent from childhood into adulthood. He remembers a loving but colorful family of six, of which he alone remains. His fascinating stories bring each of those family members to life. A continuation of Growing Up in Oz, George remembers the joys of growing up in Baltimore in the 1950s and 1960s: being lost in the Big Apple as a young child, the summer bells that sent all children running, spending a night in the House on Haunted Hill, encountering Big Foot at his school, the worst college interview imaginable, buying a complete college wardrobe for ten dollars, his dog that became a movie star, the disappearing Thanksgiving dinner, and the promise that got him through basic training. The stories document the importance of family, the treasure that grandparents represent, and the need for a sense of humor in confronting the rigors of growing up. He recounts a more innocent time in our country when the storm clouds of change were on the horizon. George demonstrates how a family is more than a sum of its parts and shows us how those lost still live on in us as we celebrate their lives, not mourn their loss.
