DR. GEORGE C. KAUFMAN III was born and raised in a small farming community in northern Illinois. He attended Western Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. In 1971, he married his high school sweetheart, Diane. They moved to Houston where Dr. Kaufman attended the University of Houston College of Optometry receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiological Optics and a Doctor of Optometry degree. In 1972, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and received a scholarship from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Upon graduation from Optometry school, he served on active duty in a base hospital at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. In 1976, Dr. Kaufman and Diane moved to the south Montgomery County and opened Woodlands Eye Associates in Grogan’s Mill Village, the first and only village of The Woodlands at that time. Dr. Kaufman was an early pioneer in helping to establish a sense of community to the area. He was an active member of The Woodlands Rotary Club and the South Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. He has served on numerous committees of each organization and was president of the Rotary Club in 1985. As a Rotarian, he was honored with the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Dr. Kaufman served as an elder in the Timberlakes Presbyterian Church and worked with four other couples to help start The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church. He also served on the Service Academy Nominations Board on behalf of U.S. Congressman, Kevin Brady. In 1986, he became a member of the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees and served for the next 18 years. During that time, Dr. Kaufman saw tremendous growth in student population, building construction, and student achievement. He was president of the school board from 1993- 1995. He is a member of the American Optometric Association, The Texas Optometric Association, and the Society of Therapeutic Optometrists. He holds optometric licenses in Texas and California and still holds teaching credentials in Illinois and Texas. He is the proud father of two children, Kristy and David, both graduates from Conroe Independent School District schools.