Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame
Chuck Lewis 1936-2000
Inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame 1989
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Colorado
Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Chuck Lewis 1936-2000 Inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame 1989 | Home | Back to Alphabetical List | Year of Induction List | Back to Athlete | Back to Ski Sport Builder | Back to Inspirational | |
Chuck a native Coloradoan, was an accomplished skier whose contribution to the sport and its development in Colorado centered on the business aspects of the sport rather than the competitive area.
After attending Dartmouth College, Chuck served in the US Army from 1955 to 1957, serving as a Mountain Warfare Instructor in the Mountain and Cold Weather Command at Camp Hale. He was also a member of the US Biathlon Team.
After the Army, Chuck became a CPA with a large clientele among the ski communities. In 1964 he was elected Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the Vail Ski Corporation, then a mere two years old. During his years in Vail, he served as an officer and/or member of the board of the US Ski Association, the US Ski Educational Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Division of the USSA
In 1969, as the founding Chief Executive Officer of Copper Mountain, Chuck developed this ski area "from the ground up". He raised capital through innovative financing methods that are now commonplace in the resort industry. He designed ski trails in new ways, involving environmental concerns more than ever before, and increased awareness of the industry among elected and appointed governmental officials, forming a coalition of all the various elements that are needed to make a ski resort successful today.
After leaving Copper Mountain in 1982, Chuck formed a consulting business concentrating on resort development. His success with Copper Mountain placed him in demand with many prestigious ski industry organizations that affect the sport throughout Colorado and the nation. He served as Director (1973 to present) and Chairman (1981-1982) of the National Ski Areas Association; as Director (1977 to present), and Chairman (1978 to present) of the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board; and as Director (1972-1980) and Chairman (1980-1981) of Colorado Ski Country USA; as Trustee (1976 to present) and Chairman (1976-1983) of the Copper Mountain Metropolitan District, and as a former member of the Board of Directors of the Vail Valley Foundation.