Three influential businessmen who helped shape the state’s ski industry – George Gillett, Dick Hauserman and Dick Eflin – will be inducted into the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
Gillett owned Vail and Beaver Creek resorts from 1985 to 1992. He’s credited with innovating the ski areas, including adding several high-speed chairlifts. Gillett went on to found Vail- based Booth Creek Ski Holdings and is also the controlling owner of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team.
Hauserman is one of Vail’s founding fathers. He helped build several key Vail properties, including the Lodge at Vail, and created the logos for Vail and Steamboat Ski Area.
Eflin opened Crested Butte Mountain for business in 1961 with a T-bar and a rope tow.
“We’re starting to recognize more individuals from the business side of snow sports,” said Justin Henderson, curator of the Vail-based Colorado Ski Museum. “They have had a major impact on where the industry has been and where it is headed.”
Past Hall of Fame inductees include ski filmmaker Warren Mil ler, ski-clothing magnate Klaus Obermeyer and David Jacobs, founder of Boulder ski-apparel company Spyder.
Ski mountaineering expert Lou Dawson and adaptive-skiing instructor Ed Lucks will also be inducted at the 29th annual ceremony, which will be held at the Denver Marriott City Center on Saturday night.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
