On Tuesday morning, Nov. 11, 67-year-old Charles Hosch embarked on what his daughter described as a familiar and celebrated routine: a hike around the Blood Mountain and nearby trail systems in northern Georgia, terrain he knew well and loved dearly. But this time, he didn’t return.
Hosch — an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and a Dallas-area attorney — was last seen near the Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead in Union County, Georgia, just outside the community of Blairsville. According to the local sheriff’s office, he was wearing khaki pants, a camel-colored sweater, and a dark green jacket when he was last seen.
His daughter told rescuers that her father is no stranger to the woods. He knows the mountain trails and often spoke of how peaceful they are, how they ground him. So the fact that he has not made contact has shaken all who know him.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia issued a missing person alert and emphasizes that Hosch is considered endangered given his age and the rugged nature of the terrain. Amid steep slopes, heavy woods and cold November conditions, the search is ongoing: experienced hikers already on the trail have been tapped to assist alongside public safety teams — though authorities are not requesting general volunteer participation at this time.
Now, schools, friends and colleagues of Hosch — who taught at SMU and practiced law in Dallas — are grappling with the absence of this mentor and friend. SMU confirmed that the university community is “keeping his family and all who care about him in our thoughts,” underscoring the deep respect he garnered over years of scholarship and practice.
Officials urge anyone who may have seen Hosch, or who was on the trail around the time of his disappearance, to reach out immediately. Contact the Union County Emergency Operations Center at (706) 439-6091 or dial 911 if you’re in Blairsville.
Time is critical. With the weather turning colder and terrain unforgiving, each hour counts in bringing Charles Hosch home. If you were hiking near the Mountain Crossing Store or along the Appalachian Trail in that area on Nov. 11, your tip could make all the difference.
