Bio:George R. Heap

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George R. Heap was a long-time Philadelphia science fiction fan; he was for many years the secretary of the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. It was during this period, in April 1956, that George published a two-page, one-sheet, mimeographed fanzine, announcing the formation, on the previous November, of an organization of people interested in the adventures of Conan. The fanzine itself, Amra V1n1, explained that no formal requirements for membership had been set up and that until further notice all were welcome. The membership policy for that organization - the Hyborian League - and the editorial policy George established for Amra remained unchanged.

George was also noted as a singer and composer of filk songs -- folk songs about fantasy and science fiction stories. He was the only person known who could sing all 40-odd verses of "Young Man Mulligan" without notes, a feat once timed at 11-1/2 minutes by a by-stander.

In later years, after he moved to Rochester and was working as a computer programmer for Xerox, George joined the Cult, becoming the 87th to join that 13-member amateur publishing group. He was Official Arbiter of the Cult for three consecutive Cycles, and very active in that organization in other ways as well. The term "Heaps Disease" became variously attached to the practice of publishing too many f/ractional rotators, the use of too many type faces, or a case of the Hong Kong flue which he once suffered.

George died August 28, 1971 of a sudden heart attack at his home in Rochester, NY. He was 42 years old when he died. He was survived by a wife, daughter, sister and mother.