George Henry Carter IV

battle with Stage IV prostate cancer on April 18, 2021. Carter, who died peacefully at his home

with his mother, sister and best friend at his side, was 66 years old.

In honor of George and his exceptional achievements, the County of San Diego Department of

Parks and Recreation held a special ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday, April 27, 2022,

complete with discovery table and guided tour of the newly named George Carter Will Rogers

Trail. Named after George and his Saddlebred horse, Will Rogers, The George Carter Will

Rogers Trail is a half mile stretch within the 12 miles of Los Penasquitos Canyon County

Preserve, the largest urban park in the United States, located in San Diego, California. George

earned a well-known reputation in the horse community for his unique marathon trail rides and

adventures riding his horse. He was the first and only person to travel entirely by horseback from

the beach in Del Mar, CA to Cuyamaca State Park Group Horse Camp, a rigorous and

unchartered journey through desolate mountain terrain that would take 4-6 days, depending on

the route. This feat, which he achieved five times in his lifetime, took him through Los

Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve, where he also volunteered as a mounted equestrian patrol.

George was born on February 17,1955 in Quincy, Massachusetts to Shirley MacLean Carter and

George Henry Carter III. An excellent student, George graduated High School from The

Lawrence Academy in Groton MA in 1973, and then earned a B.S.B.A. degree (Bachelor of

Science in Business Administration) in 1977 at the University of Richmond in Virginia. After

working at his father’s advertising agency, George started his own marketing firm with partner

Karen Busch, which grew to be one of the largest financial marketing companies in the west

coast. He then pursued a career in banking, earning recognition for consistent pinnacle

performance. His professional success allowed him to pursue his second love, real estate, where

he bought and sold rental properties.

In addition to his achievements as an equestrian, George was an avid tennis player, sailer and

swimmer. Active in his Christian faith, George was recognized with the President’s Volunteer

Service award for community service, including working as a Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol

(RSVP), a branch of the San Diego Police Department.

George is survived by his mom, Shirley MacLean Carter Thomas, and sisters, Barbara Carter and

Anne Weiss. He was laid to rest in the Agawam Cemetery in Wareham, Massachusetts, with

only family in attendance due to COVID restrictions. For more information on George’s

trailblazing adventures, visit www.trailblazersgeorgeandwill.com. George will be forever missed

by family, friends and a community that loves him. His kindness, generosity, bravery and sense

of adventure will forever serve as a beacon and inspiration for all.