Not a waking moment passed on Sunday that George Wielms didn’t think of his mom.It’s been over a decade since she passed away in a tragic car accident, but time doesn’t completely fill the emptiness on Mother’s Day.For Wielms, there wasn’t time to mourn or even visit her grave. He snuck in a quick nap between double shifts at Jack in the Box, one of his two places of employment.“All I could think about all day was her,” said Wielms. “I just had that feeling that something was missing.”Wielms also works at Warrenton Steel and helps out on the family farm with his brother, Wyatt. He lost his mom when he was 7 and his father, Roger, has been a disabled from a work-related injury since George was 12.“You do what you can to help others, and someone will step up and help you in return,” said Wielms.George has never been bitter or felt entitled. He has never searched for sympathy or thrown himself a pity party.Instead, he works — tirelessly for those he loves and at what he loves.It’s why his football coach, Steve McDowell, decided to nominate him for a prestigious honor back in the winter.“I wanted to see him get recognized for the way he has battled through adversity,” said McDowell.Wielms’ story was compelling enough to earn him the respect of the judges, who named him the Most Inspiring/Courageous Award recipient of the National Football Foundation - Tom Lombardo Chapter.At first, he thought it was a joke.Driving home one evening from a tireless stretch of plowing snow with his son, Roger received a call about the award. Initially skeptical, he and George were both elated to find out the news was indeed legitimate, and the Warrenton linebacker had been one of two regional athletes chosen for the honor.“He’s put a lot of dedication into our program and into his family, and this is one way we could give back to the kid,” explained McDowell.George and his father attended the chapter banquet at the Orlando Gardens Banquet in St. Louis to accept the award, joined by McDowell and three assistant coaches.It was a unique experience for Wielms, who traded his usual work jeans and boots for a tuxedo and enjoyed being catered to for a few hours.“I got to eat steak while my dad had to eat steak,” quipped Wielms. “It was a pretty neat experience, getting to see the other athletes and spend the night with my dad and coaches.”Wielms sees himself as a microcosm of all those who have molded him along his journey of overcoming adversity. To him, the award was payback for those who have invested in him — a sign that he had indeed made good use of the advice and guidance. George is particularly grateful to his aunts and uncles.“So many people have helped me to become who I am today, so in a way this award is for them and to show them I have worked to become the man they wanted me to become,” said Wielms.George says he is eager to graduate and will do so this Saturday as one of 241 Warrenton seniors. Watching his father battle the complications of neuropathy, Wielms aspires to enter the medical field and help find a cure for the disease.“I’m excited to move forward with my life and  keep working hard toward the goals I have set,” said Wielms.While the future of his football career at the collegiate level is uncertain, he will for sure play at least one more organized game on the gridiron.Wielms has also been chosen to compete in the Lion’s Club All-Star Game on July 18 at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.WIELMS HONORED AS MOST INSPIRATIONALBill Barrett photo.