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Showdown MontanaStill Going Downhill

Showdown Montana · since 1936

Legends of Showdown

There are many, many legendary people who have donned the halls of Showdown over the years, but only a very select few have made it into the Showdown Legends category. To get to this level, one must have helped in one way or another make Showdown substantially a better place. These people here are amongst the highest levels and have put considerable time and effort into ensuring Showdown thrives. We must all give great appreciation to each and every one of these legends below for their contribution not just to Showdown Montana, but to the entire ski industry.

149 Legends · 2,121 photographs · 58 with a page in the papers

Nominate a Legend

There are no set rules to determine a legend status, but it is rigorously vetted and considered. If your nominee is not selected right away, their nomination never disappears and at some point they may become legends.

Sign in to nominate — any member or editor can put a name forward.

The Ski Club years

1936–1956
24 Legends
Reider ByfuglinA ski jumper from Norway, and the first ski instructor of the Great Falls area, 1938from 19371936 Lou Demorest portraitLou DemorestSurveyed the Little Belt Mountains with the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930sfrom 19371965 Ski Hut Jim hasterlik with beardJim HasterlikHe built the Ski Hut — twicefrom 1937John RiceA director when the ski club incorporated in 1938, and treasurer of Ski Lift, Inc. from 1956from 19381941 Ed Schenck, George Prentice, Rowe and Bob Selzer near car with gear-Donated by Donna WahlbergGeorge PrenticePrentice Run, named for him in 1939from 19391940s Ed SchenckEd SchenckClub president at the 1940 dedicationfrom 19391941 Danny Moran and Dan Thorson - Donated by Donna WahlbergDan MoranOne of four skiing Morans: free lessons in 1940, the lodge committee of 1946, and a team leader in the 1956 stock drivefrom 19401951 Cliff Rumford — Racing by a gateCliff RumfordClass B slalom winner in 1939, a founding patroller, and co-head of the 1946 lodge committeefrom 19401936 Jack Throckmorton first time at King's Hill in winterJack ThrockmortonClub president, and the Mile is hisfrom 19401946 Betty Halowell, Connie Ecklund Hubbard, Vivian BlumfieldVivian BlumfieldRan the club's first Ski Week after the war, 1946, and became its secretaryfrom 1946Andy FaragoClub president the winter the lodge opened, and chairman of Old Fogey Dayfrom 19461960 Ron Hall — The T-Bar — Group of Ski Club MembersStub GendreauChaired the 1956 drive that sold shares in the hill to Great Falls, and taught in its ski schoolfrom 19461947 L-R Wally Buckley, Jack Throckmorton, Maggie Throckmorton, Connie Ecklund, Vivian Blumfield, Betty Halowell, C.O. McCafferty, Christie McCaffertyC. O. McCaffertyClarence “Mac” McCafferty of Belt ran the club's first race after the war and was its president in 1948 and 1949from 1946Shirle SteelSki Queen of 1946, then the club's women's downhill champion three years runningfrom 1946Joe TaylorA Neihart boy in 1936, and sixty years of itfrom 19461947 Harlan Cory on Ski PatrolHarlan CoryClub president 1953, and twenty-four seasons of passesfrom 19471950s Dr. Lester Howard — on the Rope Tow with the Lodge in the backgroundDr. Lester F. HowardHead of the ski patrol in 1947, its doctor for more than twenty years, and a photographer of the hillfrom 19471947 Clary CoryClary CoryPie in the lodge on Sundays, then the club's publicity chairman and a Tribune columnistfrom 19481960s Bill Reynolds chopping treeBill "Willi" ReynoldsWon the first race on the Funnel, then cleared it as club president, 1951from 1949Larry GinnatyLarry GinnatyA Great Falls Ski Bum who first skied Kings Hill about 1951from 1951Maryann KindschyTreasurer of the Great Falls Ski Club, 1951–53from 19512024 Mike's Bell — First Tracks Facebook Post from 11-22-2024Mike BellForty-one years on the patrol; the bell is hisfrom 19551960s Dick Hall, Dave Hall, Ann HallAnn HallRacer, and the first girl to letter in skiing at Great Falls Highfrom 19551966 Harry Birkenbuel — The Hall-O — Racing by a gateHarry BirkenbuelRacer, patrol president, and the coach of a generation of juniorsfrom 1956

The Shareholders Era

1957–1973
18 Legends
1960s Earl Hall Smoking PipeDr. Earl HallPresident of Ski Lift, Inc. — the Hall-O is hisfrom 19421970s Dick Hall Spread Eagle HDDick HallRacer and ski jumper, and the first sophomore on the Great Falls High varsityfrom 19571970 Ron Hall FamilyRon HallInstructor, coach, owner of Skier's Edgefrom 19591966 The Officials T. Augland L. Hunt XC Start KCTony AnglandRacer, course setter, junior coach and club presidentfrom 1960Old Brochure - Floyd Dupuis Inside 1Floyd Dupuis“Fluid Floyd” — Kings Hill's executive director and ski school director, 1960–62from 1960Tillie GilesShowdown's kitchen for three decadesfrom 19622013 Stan King at Top PatrolStan KingSixty-two years on the ski patrolfrom 19621960s Jim and Pat ThompsonJim and Patti ThompsonHe managed Kings Hill for its last eleven winters and built its double chair; Patti wrote to the paper for itfrom 19621980s Arlington AJ Buskirk-this photo was a big part of marketing at the timeAJ BuskirkCat skinner, and the face on the postersfrom 19631974 Dick DaileyDick DaileySki Racer, instructor, patroller, ski school co-director — and the Eagle Mount cup in his namefrom 19631960 Ron Hall — The T-Bar — Group of Ski Club MembersGeorge MontroseSki school director, and the man who tested the teachersfrom 19631974 Jenette Hollingworth-Delcomte (Ellington) — LodgeWayne EllingtonFounder of the professional ski patrol — sixteen yearsfrom 19671980s AJ Buskirk holding old timey rifle and Scott Mosher with goggles on - George Willett EraThe Mosher FamilyPatrol, ski school and ski shop — three generationsfrom 19681990s Chik Neble, Pinky Mathews — Ski Bums GroupPinky and Vera MathewsHe wired the 1970 double chair and got the phones goingfrom 1970Fritz SchmutzThe Swiss engineer of the 1970 double chairfrom 19702022 Allan Rabbit Receives Award, Bill Lay on right, Allan, and ???Charlie and Bill LayThe mountain's telephones, father and sonfrom 1977Bill BourretTodd Trophy 1959, club officer, racing fatherWayne AndersonHe wired the lodge's overhead heaters

The George Willett years

1973–2020
85 Legends
1973 George Willett and Griz the Dog-George WillettOwner and manager, 1973–2020 — forty-seven yearsfrom 19701990's Lyle CiglerLyle CiglerSki School Directorfrom 1973Ted CogswellIt was his idea: he and George Willett bought the hill in April 1973from 19732024 Jimmy Hoxter — 50 Year Anniversary AwardJimmy HoxterMountain manager — fifty years on the liftsfrom 19731989 Kara Phillips — Upper QuicksilverThe Phillips FamilyJoni Phillips signed the first Showdown passesfrom 19731990s Joe Pinski sitting on deck smilingJoe PinskiMountain manager and head groomer — there on George Willett's first morning, and for close to thirty yearsfrom 19731990s Phil Kiser SmilingPhil KiserBrought Johnny K to Showdown's kitchen, 1974from 19741977 John Kowalski — The Mountain — Happy ski dayJohnny and Renee KowalskiShowdown's kitchen from 1974 — twenty-seven seasons, with Reneefrom 19742026 Chris QuinnChris QuinnPatrol director — fifty-nine years on the hillfrom 19741990s Idaho Trenberth Ski InstructorBill "Idaho" TrenberthSki School Director to 1990 — fifty-one years on the hillfrom 1974Scott BarteltDirector of the Showdown Ski School, 1975–76from 19752001 Bonnie Noble, Dave Elmquist, Montana Decker — on bar deck — hanging outMontana DeckerAssembled the chairs for the new triple chairlift, 1978from 19781978 John Metrione bardtening in old Hole in the Wall SaloonJohn Metrione1978 triple-chair crew, bartender, Forest Servicefrom 19782021 Terry Stevenson in Top RockTerry StevensonGreat Falls Ski Patrol, Team 3 — avalanche qualifiedfrom 19782004 Margie Willet the janitorMargie WillettTicket office, books and guest services, 1978–2020from 19781999 Allan Rabbit Ski PatrollerAllan RabbitForty-seven seasons on the ski patrol — nine of them paidfrom 19791970s Rick Hodas and unknownRick HodasSki school and marketing director, 1980–84, and the man in the red jacketfrom 19802002 Sue Broquist, Dave BroquistBroquist FamilyRacer, then ski school director — and Sue behind the barfrom 19811992 Mike GoldMike GoldInstructor, seven winters — and nearly sixty years herefrom 19821990s Bob's Bar, Tony Juntunen Jr., George Willett, Margie Willett, Chris Quinn, Idaho Trenberth, Dick Nebel, Jimmy Hoxter?Tony and Sherry JuntunenBob's Bar in Neihart, 1982 to 2018 — where the mountain came down to at the end of the dayfrom 19821990s Kevin Lacey Skiing BumpsKevin LaceyAssistant ski school director — and its trainerfrom 19822010 Jim Gold, Pam Gold on top of mountainJim and Pam GoldJim, in the ski school since 1983 and a founder of the We Ski Cousins — and Pam, whom he met on the double chairfrom 19831996 Jerry SolbergJerry, Sandy and Geoff SolbergThe rental shop, twenty-three yearsfrom 1984Rory TollefsrudInstructor and coach — the trophy carries his namefrom 19841990s Dave Elmquist — On the MountainDave ElmquistForty-one seasons on the patrol and countingfrom 19851990s Mel CarnahanMel CarnahanSki patroller, forty years — and the fireworksfrom 19861990s Kevin Lacey, Tammy Lacey — Triple ChairTammy LaceySki instructor, certified 1986 — and a teacherfrom 19861990s Jan Alltucker at Top of Triple ChairThe AlltuckersThe lifts and the rental shop — twenty-seven yearsfrom 19871990s Klaus Ahmels — Rental Shop — Klaus Ahmels fitting skiis with kidKlaus AhmelsTwenty-eight years in the rental shopfrom 19881980s Jay ZehntnerJay and Ben ZehntnerThe rental shop, father and sonfrom 19881990s Top Rock Chris Quinn and Joe BlanchardJoe BlanchardSki patrol director — and he built the Top Rockfrom 19891997 Rick JacobsRick Jacobs FamilySki instructor, 1990s — still in the powder in 2017from 19892013 Unknown Facebook Post from 11-22-2013Bill MacfaddenEagle Mount founder — adaptive skiing at Showdownfrom 19902024 Bridgette Paddock and unknown man, Mark Paddock on rightThe Paddock FamilyTwo generations on the patrol — thirty-five years and tenfrom 19901996 Brian Hoven — The Hole in the Wall SaloonThe Hoven FamilyThe 1990s race programme — three Hovensfrom 19911980s Dick Nebel — Fireman’s ChallengeDick NebelGrooming and lift maintenance, 1991 and 1992from 19911990s Scott Dvorak and KidsScott DvorakSki instructor — PSIA-certified here in 1992from 19921994 Mike GoldJamie Hurd and FamilyMarketing director, 1992-94 — and here from 1968from 19921990s Jason HuestisJason HuestisOn the patrol from about 1996 — first on, last offfrom 19962000s Jim Anderson, Angie Anderson — The BarJim and Angie Anderson and FamilySki School Director 1997–2001, and back every winter sincefrom 1997Brock Stokke skiingThe Stokke FamilyTheir March event stops the mountain at two o'clockfrom 1997Jodi ZehntnerEleven years running the Showdown daycarefrom 19982000 Joe Peope at triple chair lift lineJoe and Kyle PopeTerrain Park Directorfrom 19992022 Unknown Facebook Post from 10-07-2022Richard BakerMore than twenty winters bumping chairs at the bottom of the doublefrom 20002000s Jim Driver:Derek Whittenberg:Ty Johnson:Leo Hurtz ski school in front of lodge chimneyJim DriverSki school staff, in KARBON, in the 2000sfrom 20002001 Chris LeathamChris and Beth LeathamThey ran the ski school together, 2000 to 2007from 20002010 Jake Parchen, Pam Gold, Don Mendenhall — The BarDon MendenhallPatroller from 2000, patrol director by 2005, full-time in 2015from 20002000s Jim Driver:Derek Whittenberg:Ty Johnson:Leo Hurtz ski school in front of lodge chimneyDerek WhittenbergSki school, about 2000–02 — DEREK on his name tagfrom 20002023 Boom Crew with Mel CarnahanThe Boom CrewShowdown's New Year's Eve fireworks, from about 2002from 20022009 Jake Parchen ski school penguinJake ParchenSki school instructor from 2002-03, and one of the men who ran the school through the 2010sfrom 20022009 Nate SchendelNate SchendelSki school from 2004 — and the man who made Showdown's 75th-anniversary filmfrom 20042009 Nick Boucher Smiles At PowderNick BoucherRan the terrain park — clipboard in hand at the 2011 Throwdownfrom 20052025 Jimmy Hoxter, Evan Clark, Tim Ramsey, April Roth, Amy Porter, Hannah Patrick, Ripliegh Dees, Ryan Moran, Oliver Korslien, Brady Moran, Ben Zehntner, Kianna Facebook Post from 11-11-2025Tim RamseyKitchen Manager — twenty years of feeding the hillfrom 20062013 Ben Haugan chain saw carving sign out of tree of Prospector double chairlift duringBen HauganRan the snow school, then the mountain — 2007 to 2015from 2007Charley and Ally Willett and FamilyCharley and Ally Willett and FamilyOn this hill since 1983, and the ones writing it downfrom 20072021 Randy "RJ" Jackson, Ben Demaray, Frankie Feeback, Aaron Weissman — Outside the lodge Facebook Post from 03-06-2021Randy Jacksonfrom 20082021 Jared Burton — Top of Porphyry PeakThe Burton FamilyA fun day in 1989, and the terrain park nowfrom 20092013 Jesse Gregory at top of triple making call to the bottomJesse GregoryFacility Manager — seventeen seasons, every departmentfrom 20092009 Evan haugan, Ken Tipton, Sam Sulser in kitchenEvan HauganKitchen manager — the other half of a two-department familyfrom 20092010 Eric Held head ski patroller on top of mountain with other ski patrollersEric HeldHead of the ski patrol, 2009 to 2011from 20092024 AJ Korselin Accepting Award and unknown personAJ KorslienThe terrain park, then the whole mountainfrom 20091989 Kathy Sulser, snowboard competition - Frank Ball PhotoSam and Kathy SulserOn a snowboard at thirty-two, and for twenty-one yearsfrom 20092017 Laura TiradoLaura TiradoCame from Colombia in 2010 and worked the kitchen, the ticket window, Snow Monsters and the barfrom 2010The Malisani FamilySix of one family on the patrol at once — Christmas 2014from 2011Marilynn TallmenShowdown staff, and the ski patrol's Terry Goodman award in 2012from 20122023 Aaron Weissman — The Lodge Deck — 56" storm cleanup, Shovel and you get free skiing! Facebook Post from 02-20-2023Aaron WeissmanPatroller and ski instructorfrom 2013Janice Smith-BagheriBob's Bar, Neihart, since December 2018from 20182025 Ryan Moran, Ben Demaray, Jimmy Hoxter, Katie Boedecker, Jay Zehntner, Luke Jaraczeski, Dan Kelsey, Emmy Boedecker Facebook Post from 09-17-2025Ben DemarayOut in the snowcat before sunrise — Employee of the Year, 20211990s unknown female, Baron Noble, Bonnie Noble in barBonnie and Baron NobleGreat Falls and Neihart regulars — telemark and the bar1990s Brandon Boedecker and Bridger Boedecker near lodgeBrandon BoedeckerOn the hill from the 1990s, with his son Bridger1988 John Kowalski, Margie Willett, Butch Nebel — The Mountain — Happy ski dayButch NebelOn the hill with Johnny K and Margie Willett, 1988Chuck and Gerry JenningsGreat Falls skiers — three generations on this hillColleen FinchPro patroller — the National Ski Patrol's Outstanding Ski Patroller of the Year, 20192019 Dale and Jean PughDale PughSki patroller — and the Banff films, twenty-five years2004 Ed Noble on bar deckEd NobleOne of the 1973 sellers, and he never leftEv HallForty-six winters here, Guest of the Year 20251990s Frank Feeback SnowboardingFrank "Frankie" FeebackSnowboarding at Showdown from the 1980s1997 Fireman Challenge Kurt Buskirk?Jerry SutichMonarch Volunteer Fire Department, at the Fireman's Challenge1989 Jim Tice - Frank Ball PhotoJim TiceBehind the bar in the Hole in the Wall Saloon, late 1980sJohn KlinefelterGreat Falls businessman — Showdown was his place2026 Katie Boedecker, Kent Pederson — The Bar — The Showies Facebook Post from 04-08-2026Kent PedersonAssistant ski patrol director — the Stealth Bomber Award began with himMr. BrenterThe Austrian who made Showdown's first snow bikes2004 Shelly Milburn, Bonnie Noble, Sue Broquist — The Hole in the Wall SaloonShelly MilburnIn the bar and about the lodge, 1999 to 20042011 Spencer Paul, Jesse Gregory near snowcat hauling logsSpencer PaulSnowcat and logging crew — he spotted the 2012 fireTana HoytTana HoytRan the Showdown daycare for a long time, before her sister Jodi

Boedecker & Gold

2020 onward
15 Legends
1980s Katie Boedecker — Rental ShopKatie Boedecker and FamilyMarketing, then manager, then ownerfrom 19932021 Avery Patrick, Sean Patrick — Big 7 in the background Facebook Post from 02-09-2021Avery and Shawn PatrickMarketing director from 2015; an owner since 2020from 20112009 Bridger Boedecker smiling at lodge with mountain in backBridger BoedeckerBuilt the rental reservation system, fall 2020from 2018kim Johnson in officeKim JohnsonAdministration — the first Employee of the Weekfrom 20192011 George Gold-Clark Striking poseGeorge and Zane Clark-GoldMarketing director, and an organiser of the Showiesfrom 20202025 William Gold, Rachel Gold — Not at Showdown Facebook Post from 02-14-2025Will and Rachel Gold and FamilySnow School Director — the largest departmentfrom 20202025 Seth Abbott — The base area Facebook Post from 02-27-2025Seth AbbottSnow school and every department — Rookie of the Year 2022, Employee of the Year 2023from 20212022 Hannah Patrick — Employee of the week Facebook Post from 02-10-2022Hannah PatrickGuest services supervisor — the Queen of ShedQuartersfrom 20212023 Unknown Facebook Post from 02-05-2023Kirsten CookSix jobs at once, 2022-23 — and the writer who put Our Base Is Our People on the blogfrom 20222025 Unknown Facebook Post from 07-21-2025Bradley BestSnow school instructor — Instructor of the Year and the Terry Goodman Award, 20252026 Katie Boedecker, Mason Murphy — The Bar — The Showies Facebook Post from 04-08-2026Mason MurphyPro patroller — the patrol's Anchor Award, 2025Sam Sulser, Ryan Quinn at Top RockRyan QuinnA judge's clipboard at Top Rock, March 20212025 Robby Gliko — The Lodge Facebook Post from 12-31-2025The Gliko FamilyRobby Gliko — the Growth Award, 2021, and Instructor of the Year, 20262025 Jim Grewe — Parking Lot — Pink Snowcat! Facebook Post from 09-17-2025The Grewe Family and Peterson EquipmentThe snowcat dealer — and the pink PistenBullyTommy CroffHe plows U.S. 89 over Kings Hill Pass

Not yet placed in an era

no start year in the archive yet
7 Legends
Bo AdamsDebbie GolbergKyle and JeannieLarry TheisenSteve Theisen's brotherLupi the BartenderBartenderSteve WeaverTerry GoodmanThe patrol's annual award carries his name

No Legend by that name yet — try the photograph search.

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