A dog is a man’s best friend, but for George Kerscher (he made information accessible through technology to persons with print disabilities), Nesbit was much more than that. The duo met in ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’ in San Rafael, California, in February 1999. The 21-month-old doting doggo was Kerscher’s map, his eyes, and his buddy who traveled on both national and international trips. Interestingly, as Kerscher became a Million Miler, so did his guide dog Nesbit, who was Delta Airlines‘ first guide dog to hold the title of a “Million Miler.”
Traveling for a big-sized dog like Nesbit was no easy task. As Kerscher described, Nesbit would curl up under the seat and his legs on excruciatingly long flights, with no special washrooms for pets. But the gentle four-legged friend was always on his best behavior. At a special event at the 2008 CSUN Conference, Delta personnel presented Nesbit with a frequent flyer card and a plaque hallmarking his “million-mile” accomplishment.
Per a fun fact shared on Reddit, it takes an average of 22 years for a customer to become a million miler with Delta. Every day, 68 customers cross the million-mile threshold, but certainly no dog! To make this recognition prominent, Delta gifts special bag tags to members who have achieved Million Miler Status. Flyers with 1 million miles get a silver medallion, and those with 2 million get a gold one, and those boasting over 6 million miles get diamond medallions.
Unfortunately, Nesbit passed away peacefully with Kerscher and his wife Gail by his side and couldn’t progress to the gold medallion. Still, the companionship of Kerscher and his furry friend is one for the books. From guiding his owner through the bustling streets of Rome and tackling fast cars in chaotic cities, Nesbit was a calm and composed guide. As Kerscher stated, ‘If a dog could be called a perfect gentleman, that dog would have been Nesbit.”
Who is George Kerscher?
After losing his sight in his 20s, Kerscher dedicated himself to improving access to written material. A pioneer in digital talking books, he has significantly impacted accessibility for the visually impaired and dyslexic. George Kerscher started his IT innovations in 1987, coining the term “print disabled.” Today, he is the Secretary General of the DAISY Consortium and President of the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), a recognized international leader in document access. He was honored as a Champion of Change for leading education and employment efforts in STEM for Americans with disabilities by the White House during President Obama’s tenure.
