George E. Ball has led a distinguished career as a curator, scientist, and teacher at the University of Alberta. A towering authority on the systematics and taxonomy of carabid beetles, he has taught his students by example rather than by words alone. Since his retirement in 1991, George has produced many excellent papers on carabid systematics, and, in addition has mentored countless entomology students around the world. During my time as a graduate student at the University of Alberta, George’s contagious enthusiasm was influential in my decision to continue working on carabids in my Ph.D. degree and further. He always promoted rigorous work and scholarship, and gave his time freely to many students. George has been an instrumental and yet, gentle force in shaping the careers of other graduate students. His ‘merry go round’ continues 14 years after his retirement, and is a testament to his spirit, dedication, and scholarship during the past half century.