SKI AND SNOWBOARD HALL OF FAME NEWS

The U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum has been advised that it will receive a Museums for America Grant, in the amount of $106,785 from the Institue of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The Hall of Fame will use the funds to digitize a very valuable collection of ski films produced by pioneer filmaker John Jay that are of great historical significance. It has been estimated that there are over 90 hours of film and that it will take two years to complete the project.

"We are very excited to hear the news about the success of our grant application," said Tom West, president and CEO of the U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Musuem. "Many of these films have never been seen because the film itself is too fragile to run through a standard projector. They require highly specialized care. In a digitized format they will become more accessible to the skiing community as a whole."

In addition the Hall of Fame expects to produce 5 two-minute excerpts that will be available for use for national broadcast prior to and during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It will also provide matching support to the project exceeding $200,000.

Museums for America is the largest grant program offered by the IMLS to museums. Funds are used to support projects and activities that help museums build their capacity to serve their communities. This year the IMLS received 371 applications totaling more than $40 million. Only 54 were successful with the funds projected at $16.9 million.

The U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum was established in Ishpeming, Michigan, the historic birthplace of organized skiing in America, in 1954. It seeks to bring respected and lasting national recognition to those people who have significantly contributed to ski and snowboard sport in the United States through their achivevements and effort on behalf of skiiing and snowboarding. There are currently 356 honored members and the organization operates a 15,000 square foot museum in Ishpeming.

Placement Ceremony, a highlight of the Hall of Fame Weekend will be pinnacle event on September 20

When the Hall of Fame moved its Induction Ceremony to the SIA Snowtrade Show in Las Vegas in 2007, it left a gap in Ishpeming which had hosted this important ceremony for nearly 50 years. To fill that gap, the tradition of the Hall of Fame Weekend has been re-established in late September which is one of the most beautiful times in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

A new ceremony was created which in many ways is just as emotional an event as the Induction Ceremony. This is the Placement Ceremony when the inductees, in front of a gathering of family, friends, and residents of Ishpeming, place their photographs on the Honor Wall in the Hall of Fame. The permanency of this brings home the significance of the Hall of Fame honored membership.

The weekend gives the inductees the opportunity to see the Hall of Fame and experience the hospitality of the Upper Peninsula where national organized skiing began. This year the ceremony takes place on the afternoon of September 20th.  The event is open to the public and free of charge.  Looking forward to seeing you then.

National Ski Jumpers' Reunion September 5-6

Were you a ski jumper? Are you one of those skiers that could claim some proficiency as a four-event skier in the past? We are looking for ski jumpers who love to have fun and play golf for the Third Annual Ski Jumpers Reunion and Golf Outing.

Organized under the chairmanship of former Olympian ski jumper and Hall of Fame honored member Gene Kotlarek, the annual reunion takes place in Ishpeming during the first weekend in September (5-6).

For more information or to request registration call the Hall of Fame at 906.485.6323 or e-mail administrator@skihall.com.

Dick Barrymore (1933-2008), Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Dick Barrymore, an innovative ski film pioneer and a member of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame, died Aug. 1 at his home in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The Idaho Mountain Express reported that Barrymore's death was from brain cancer. He was 74. 

Born in 1933 in California, Barrymore became one of a small group of ski filmmakers who traversed the U.S. for many years-showing and personally narrating their films with wit and humor at ski clubs, and in school auditoriums and movie houses. In 1960, he began his career as a ski filmmaker at the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif. He also covered the rise of freestyle skiing in the U.S. His longer movies included Ski West Young Man, Wild Skis, and The Last of the Ski Bums. Barrymore also wrote "Breaking Even," his story of his life making ski films.

Barrymore was enshrined in the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 2000. A private family service is set for Thursday, Aug. 7. A public celebration of Barrymore's life is planned for Oct. 21, with details to be announced later.

George E. Bauer (1925-2008), Hall of Fame Class of 1991

George E. Bauer resident of Old Saybrook, passed away on Sunday (July 13, 2008) after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Joan, his daughter Lucy and son-in-law Marc, sons Peter and daughter-in-law Carol; Bob and daughter-in-law Whitney and seven grandchildren; Jennifer, Merritt, Ford, Matthew, Nicholas, Sam and Jack. George was born in 1925 and lived in Larchmont, New York for many years.

A graduate of New York State Maritime Academy, he served in the US Navy during World War II. He attended the University of Bridgeport after the war. Upon graduation, he began a long career in the publishing business working for McGraw Hill, Times Mirror and Time Inc. After serving as the Advertising Director of SKI Magazine in the late 1960s, George became the Publisher of the nation's oldest ski magazine in 1977. He was Ski's Publisher for the next 15 years. He retired in 1992.

George at one time also served as Publisher of Golf Magazine. During his time at SKI, he became a leading figure in the ski industry and great promoter of the sport. He helped launch the nationwide Nastar, the national standard ski race, the professional ski racing tour and a children's instruction program SKIwee. He created a Ski Business Hall of Fame to honor pioneers whose products and innovations were important to the development of the ski industry.

With Pepi Gramshammer of Vail, George established the annual Legends of Skiing award, honoring international skiing stars of the past, through which he befriended many prominent citizens and celebrities, including former President Gerald Ford. In 1986, he created America's 50th Ski Birthday celebration at Sun Valley, marking the 50th anniversaries of SKI Magazine and the Idaho resort.

Dick Goetzman Endowment Fund Established

Dick Goetzman passed away on April 3, 2007, but even now, over a year following his death, his presence is being felt in the skiing world. An accountant by profession he played a prominent role in helping the USSA, ISHA and the Hall of Fame stay afloat financially. He was not only generous with his time but could often be counted on to write the first check to get a campaign going.

He left his estate largely to support skiing history and the community whre he loved to ski through a gift to the Mammoth Community Foundation. The funds left to the Hall of Fame are being used by the Board of Directors to build an endowment fund in Dick's memory that will ensure its long term stability and strenghten its capacity to carry out its mission. Up to $300,000 will be earmarked to be matched by gifts to the endowment fund.

If you wish to make a gift to the Dick Goetzman Endowment Fund contact the Hall of Fame at 906.485.6323 or e-mail administrator@skihall.com.