2003 Hall of Inductees
Merrill “Mezzy” Barber
Vermont Location: Brattleboro
Competitive Skiing: Jumping, Harris Hill.
1940 - US National Jumping Champion, won the Paul Bietila Award.
1942 reported that Barber won the 4th inter collegiate ski meet held in Sun Valley, 1st in jumping, 3rd in slalom, 5th in downhill, 8th in cross country. Allan Beck was second.
1950 - set the US distance record of 305 feet
1952 - won the US National Ski Jumping Championship and received the Torger Tokle Memorial Award given by Norway to the US National Ski Jump Champion. 1952 - retired
College: Norwich University
Ski Industry: Mezzy Barber's Formula Brands, Inc. High Quality Ski Waxes and Lacquers for every Skiing Condition."
Donald M. Boardman
Rank, Company, Regiment: PFC HQ 86th INF
Vermont Location: Weston
Awards: Bronze Star
Importance of Vermont:
"Skiing and the love I had acquired for Vermont got me to locate some property and build my "ski cabin" which was done over many weekends and vacations. I worked in Connecticut, but I lived in Vermont…"
First skiing experience:
"At age, probably 9 or 10, going straight down the steepest hill at the local country club where I lived in Connecticut with nothing but toe straps and if we made it, taking off the skis and walking to the top of the hill again. At 14 and a junior in high school, I had progressed to some laminated skis with steel edges, Dovre cable bindings and LL Bean ski boots and along with 3 or 4 friends would head for South Mountain where we would pack down trails through the woods and practice our turns - "skill" we were learning from the printed page only. At 17 and a junior in high school I got to my first real ski area --the G-bar-S Ranch, Great Barrington, Mass. (known now as Butternut Basin) where 3 rope tows were required to get us to the top. Mostly trails rather than open slopes -- one went till they fell and then got up and continued down. After that it was getting to any area I could that had lifts."
What was your experience in the 10th like?
"The 10th taught us how to survive under the worst of conditions. Except for live ammunition, nothing we experienced in combat compared to what we went through in training."
Why did you join the 10th?
"Fascinated by storied of the Russo-Finnish War and the part played by men on skis. Skiing was my favorite sport and I thought that was the part of the Army I should be."
Information submitted by: Donald Boardman
Scott W. Brown
Rank, Company, Regiment: PVT F 86th and 85th
Vermont Location: South Hero
First skiing experience: “4 years of age"
What was your experience in the 10th like?
"Very good until they sent me to Camp Carson just before they left Camp Hale.
Why did you join the 10th?
"If you volunteered you could stay in college another semester. I liked skiing."