On an evening of glitz and glamour for the state’s skiing community, several locals were recently honored as part of the third class of inductees into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.
“When the hall started three years ago, it was really a necessity,” said Auburn’s Dick Osgood, who was one of 10 inductees this year.
“I think we have a great ski culture in Maine. There’s a lot of history here.”
From Olympic racers to Olympic timers to fanatic local skiers and coaches, the Maine Ski Hall of Fame has all kinds.
This year’s class included five Auburn residents, one from Bethel and another from the Rumford area. Osgood, a coach at Edward Little who coached every one of fellow inductees Richard and Mary Kendall’s eight children to at least one state alpine title, was quick to point out that getting into the Hall took more than just himself.
“I had a tremendous coach myself,” said Osgood, “and then the kids I had certainly were great skiers.”
Also inducted from the area was Richard “Pat” Murphy. The 84-year-old Murphy is still active with the Sugarloaf ski patrol.
“My national ski patrol card says I’ve been doing this since 59,” said Murphy. “It’s a love of the work. A lot of things keep me going.”
One of Murphy’s favorite stories is about a pastor who once told him he needed to attend church more often on Sundays instead of working for the ski patrol. The following Sunday, Murphy said, at about 10:30, as he was contemplating going to church while he rode the chairlift, a woman looked up at him from the snow below. There beside her was her son with what turned out to be a broken leg.
“Hang on,” Murphy yelled. “I’ll be right there.”
Grabbing a sled from the station at the end of the lift, Murphy arrived at the scene. The woman told him she had been looking up to pray for help when she saw him and he yelled back.
“She told me it was a miracle,” said Murphy. “Then I knew I had done the right thing.”
Karl Anderson, originally from Greene and another former Edward Little grad, was inducted thanks to two appearances in the Olympic games (1976, 1980). He was the first Maine-born skier to compete as an alpine in the Olympics, and he won the 1978 U.S. Downhill title.
Anderson, who now works for Bangor Savings Bank, has served on the U.S. Olympic Committee Executive Board, and also on the U.S. Ski Team Board of Directors.
Bob Remington was an outstanding jumper and cross country skier for Gould Academy and later for the University of Maine, serving as a captain for both squads.
As a coach, Remington led Telstar High School to 11 state titles (six boys, five girls) and the 1978 boys’ New England title.
Robert Pidacks was inducted posthumously this year as a former U.S. Olympic athlete. Pidacks skied in cross country events for the U.S. at the 1952 Games in Oslo, Norway.
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