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In addition, he has served on the Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disability for more than a decade, having been appointed by Charlie Baker's administration. "George genuinely cares about everyone that we support," said Chris White, president and CEO of RTR. "He wears his "Dad Hat" at all times. Whenever we're deliberating in board meetings or in one-on-one conversations, he's always looking at situations from a very paternal perspective." RTR currently has more than 1,000 clients, with around 625 full- time staff members, with Ford adding that there is always a need for more. The program has roughly 50 group residences scattered throughout southeastern Massachusetts, along with four community day programs in Braintree, Middleboro, Plymouth and Taunton, as well as two more day-rehabilitation programs in Norwell and Marshfield. Without RTR and similar organizations, Ford is worried about what would become of some of the developmentally disabled adults he has worked with. "They would be wallowing, they would be adrift," he said. "Most of them would be living at home, and as parents age, it's more difficult to deal with a developmentally disabled child. If we weren't providing these services, they would just be institutionalized like they used to be in the old days." Stepping away from RTR isn't the only job Ford is moving on from. He's also announced his retirement as "Uncle Sam" in the Hingham Fourth of July parade after 18 years. It was a ceremonial position he'd long sought before enjoying a nearly two-decade run, but did not initially satisfy the prerequisites of having gray hair and grandkids. Like the red, white and blue-painted lines along Middle and Main streets on the parade route in Hingham – a concept Ford takes credit for – he will be leaving behind a legacy that won't soon be forgotten at RTR. "George is super steady," White said. "I know I can call George with something and I know the response I'll get, which is good. He's not someone who is emotionally reactive; he thinks about things very clearly." "He's not on his high horse, he's not on some ego trip where he has to be the center of attention, he's just remarkably humble and self-deprecating." Current vice chairman William Murphy is set to succeed Ford as chairman of the board, a position for which he will have the endorsement of his predecessor. "I got him involved with this group and he's been spectacular," Ford said. Hard as it is to imagine a future of RTR which does not involve Ford, the outgoing chairman omits nothing but optimism about what's next. "The folks we serve are always going to be with us," he said. "RTR is probably the most preeminent developmentally disabled service on the South Shore, and we're only going to continue to grow. I think RTR is only going to thrive in the future." 28