The 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees
Karen Huntoon
Karen Huntoon, originally of Brandon/ Rutland and a graduate of Rutland High School, won five world championships in mogul skiing and is now in the Freestyle Hall of Fame. She won 3 World Women’s Moguls Championships in 1975, 1975, and 1977. She came back to win the Colgate World Trophy Women’s Freestyle Ski Championships in 1977, held at Stratton, after sustaining a back injury. Originally she participated in three freestyle events - moguls, ballet, and aerials - but found that moguls were her favorite. She appeared in Warren Millers’ Ski in the Sun (1981) among other iconic films.
John Morton
John Morton, a four event skier originally from New Hampshire, skied four years on the Middlebury College ski team. There his aptitude for cross country emerged, first as Eastern Intercollegiate Champion in 1966 and ‘68, then as runner up in the 1968 NCAA Championships. A four-year assignment to the U.S. Biathlon Training Center at Fort Richardson, Alaska, was interrupted by a tour of duty in South Vietnam. Upon release from active service in 1972, he taught and coached in Anchorage before returning to Vermont as head coach of men’s skiing at Dartmouth College in 1978. Since then, from his office in Thetford, Vermont, he has developed trails for private landowners, municipalities and schools, resorts, as well as competition venues for major international events such as the World University Games and Biathlon World Cups while writing and commentating on skiing and outdoor recreation.
Greg McClallen
Greg McClallen, a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph’s High School in Rutland and St. Michael’s College, started his life long career as a teacher and coach in 1966. After six years at Otter Valley High School, where he got the ski team organized, he moved to Rutland High School. Beginning in 1972, he taught English and coached cross country running in the fall, skiing in the winter, and track and field in the spring. His ski team won 17 titles, and in 1976 the New England Championship for Nordic and Alpine combined. In 1987, McClallen received the National Coach of the Year Award for skiing. He retired from teaching in 2003 and from coaching the ski team in 2008.
Preston Leete Smith
Killington under Preston Leete Smith’s leadership became the largest ski resort in eastern North America and to this day is recognized worldwide as one of the big players in North American skiing. Smith’s vision led Killington to the forefront in snowmaking, grooming, innovative lift infrastructure and learn to ski. He focused on creating a better experience for the guests and growth; his growth and marketing initiatives were well thought-out and industry leading. His accomplishments range from leadership and participation in the Vermont Ski Areas Association, the National Ski Areas Association and the United States Educational Foundation.