Information submitted in a nomination letter to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame by William B. Downs, Historian, Northern Division.

Seldom has any man had more impact and influence on the sport of skiing than Gus Raaum. In competition, voluntary organization and his professional life, he has been outstanding.

Born in Brevik, Norway on January 20, 1926, Gus Raaum came to the United States in 1947 as a member of the Norwegian Ski Jumping Team. Having received a BA degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 1950, Gus Raaum is a registered Certified Public Accountant in the States of Washington, Wyoming and Montana. In 1967, he became vice-president and general manager of the Jackson Hole Ski Corporation, Teton Village, Wyoming and was president from 1968 to 1970. In 1970, he was president and C.E.O. of Big Sky of Montana, Inc. and in 1975 chairman of the board.

Gus Raaum’s accomplishments are well known in ski circles. Some are listed below:

Competition
• 1956 First place Class “A” Ski Jumping, Wenatchee, Washington (last competition)
• 1946-56 Numerous competitions in USA (jumping and cross-country)
• 1950 All American at University of Washington
• 1950 NCAA National Ski Jumping Champion, Dillon, Colorado
• 1950 Pacific N.W. Class “A” Ski Jumping Champion, McCall, Idaho
• 1948 Pacific N.W. Class “A” Ski Jumping Champion, Seattle, Washington
• 1948 California-Nevada Class “A” Ski Jumping Champion, White Hills, Nevada
• 1948 Silver Dollar Ski Derby Jumping Champion, Mt. Rose, California
• 1948 Fifth Place U.S. National Championships, Seattle, Washington
• 1947 NCAA National Ski Jumping Champion, Sun Valley, Idaho
• 1946 First Place Holmenkollen Ski Jumping (Jr. Division), Oslo, Norway (called World Series of Ski Jumping)

Olympic Games
• 1980 Ski Jumping Race Committee, Chief of Competition
• 1980 Chief of Competition and Advisor, Ski Jumping Events, Lake Placid, New York
• 1976 Chief Measurer of Ski Jumping Events, Innsbruck, Austria
• 1974 Controller for Ski Jumping, Vancouver 1980 Olympic Bid and Quebec 1978 World Nordic Championship Bid
• 1972 Technical Delegate, Ski Jumping Events, Sapporo, Japan
• 1960 Assistant Chief of Ski Jumping Events, Squaw Valley, California

International Ski Federation (F.I.S.)
• 1982 Technical Delegate for World Ski Jumping Championships, Oslo, Norway
• 1978 Technical Delegate for World Ski Jumping Championships, Lahti, Finland
• 1967-83 Chairman of the Jumping Committee, International Ski Federation (member since 1955)
• 1974 Assistant Technical Delegate for World Ski Jumping Championships, Falun, Sweden
• 1973 Chief of Race, North American Cross-Country Championships, Big Sky, Montana
• 1966 Chief Judge for World Ski Jumping Championships, Oslo, Norway
• 1962 Jumping Judge for World Ski Jumping Championships, Zakopane, Poland

United States Ski Association (USSA)
• 1976 Assistant Chief of Race, U.S. National Cross-Country Championships, Big Sky, Montana
• 1974 Chief of Race, U.S. National Cross-Country Championships, Big Sky, Montana
• 1971 Received Blegen Award, highest award of the USSA, for contribution to the sport of skiing
• 1970-71 Treasurer, U.S. Ski Association (for third time – first time in 1955)
• 1970 Manager, U.S. Nordic Team to World Championships in Vysoke Tatry, Czechoslovakia
• 1969 Team Leader, U.S. Ski Jumping Team to Switzerland
• 1958-65 Chairman, USSA Ski Jumping Committee
• 1964-65 Team Leader, U.S. Ski Jumping Team to Austria and Germany
• 1958 Manager, U.S. Nordic Team to World Championships, Lahti, Finland

The Northern Division USSA is proud to have known Gustav F. Raaum, to be associated with him and to have benefited from his expertise.

Gustav F. Raaum was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1980. He was elected to the University of Washington Husky Hall of Fame in 1992, was the honoree at the Seattle Ski Alliance Celebration in 1992 and was awarded the U.S. Ski Association’s Bud & Mary Little Award for international service to the USSA (1991/1992).