RALPH OUTLAW WALTON JR. - CedarHouse Partners · RALPH OUTLAW WALTON JR. Nomination for the...

RALPH OUTLAW WALTON JR.

Nomination for the

Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum

Hall of Fame

Submitted on

February 14, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM TAB

A. Nomination Form ……………………………………….…………………………………… 1

B. Timeline of the Nominee’s

Life and Accomplishments ………………………………..…………………………….. 2

C. Biography Describing the

Nominee’s Achievements ………..…………….………………………………………... 3

D. Photos of the Nominee …………………………….…………………………………...… 4

E. Nominating and Seconding Letters …..…………………………………………….. 5

i. Nominating letter from Dick Eflin and Thom Cox

ii. Seconding letter from Mel Olsen and Walter Aue

iii. Seconding letter from Andy Daly and Bill Jensen

F. Endorsing Signatures from

Long-Time Crested Butte Residents ………………………………………..………. 6

2012 NOMINATION FORM

Must be completed and returned by February 15, 2012

Nominee Full Name: Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr. Family Contact (if deceased): Ralph Outlaw Walton III Address: 208 Weimar Way City, State, Zip Code: Kalispell, MT, 59901 Home Phone: 406.314.4753 Cell Phone: 406.471.0327 E-Mail: [email protected] Date of Birth: June 14, 1930 Place of Birth: Columbus, GA Category of Nomination (check one) Athlete:_______ Sport Builder: X Inspirational Individual:_______ Is this a posthumous Nomination? Yes If yes, date of death: April 17, 2011 Date of achievement(s): numerous achievements 1970 through 2004 enumerated in the attached nomination submittal Is nominee a Colorado native whose achievements were made in another state? No If yes, where: not applicable Is the nominee supportive of being nominated and willing to participate in the Hall of Fame Induction planning process and attend the event? Absolutely! Co-Sponsors’ Contact Information: Name: Dick Eflin Address: 743 Bentwater Circle, Apartment 203 City, State, Zip Code: Naples, FL, 34108-6735 Home Phone: 239-594-2281 Cell: none E-mail: [email protected] Name: Thom Cox Address: P. O. Box 31 City, State, Zip Code: Goddard, KS, 67052 Home Phone: 316-794-8916 Cell: 970-596-7413 E-mail: [email protected]

CSSM Hall of Fame Nomination of Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr. Career Timeline, Page 1

Career of

1. Career Summary:

• Born in Columbus, Georgia in • Graduated from Marion Military Institute in 1949 and Auburn University in 1951 with a

BS in electrical engineering.• Served 2 years in the US Army Signal Corps as a first lieutenant and later on the top

secret “Manhattan Project” in Los Alamos, New Mexico. • Recruited by Westinghouse Electric Corporation where he worked for 16 years until

1970. • Purchased bankrupt Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) in 1970 from 7 Kansas

banks with brother-in-• Started a variety of businesses always with

then skiing. • Retired from CBMR in 2001.• Sold CBMR to the Muel• Died in Lagrange, Georgia in

2. A Selective History of Crested Butte and CBMR

• 1860 – Gold miners invade the Ute Indian land which would later become Crested Butte.• 1873 – Explorer Ferdinand Hayden, upon seeing Gothic & Cr

calls them the “Crested Buttes”.• 1880 – Crested Butte is formally incorporated with a population of 300.• 1881 – The Denver & Rio Grande railroad reaches Crested Butte. The first large coal

mine, Jokerville, opens on Gibson Ridge.• 1884 – Jokerville mine explodes killing 58 miners.• 1894 – Big Mine opens on the Bench and closes 58 years later in 1952. • 1953 – The Denver & Rio Grande railroad tracks are removed. Keystone Mine & Mill

on Mount Emmons is formed becoming the mainstay of t1969.

• 1958 – Dr. Hubert Winston Smith of Texas begins the Lawthe beginning of the vacation era.

• 1961 – Dick Eflin and Fred Rice open the Crested Butte Ski Area.

Career of Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr. Timeline of Work History

February 14, 2012

Born in Columbus, Georgia in June 14, 1930. Graduated from Marion Military Institute in 1949 and Auburn University in 1951 with a

engineering. Served 2 years in the US Army Signal Corps as a first lieutenant and later on the top secret “Manhattan Project” in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Recruited by Westinghouse Electric Corporation where he worked for 16 years until

krupt Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) in 1970 from 7 Kansas -law, Bo Callaway.

a variety of businesses always with partners: cattle, sod, pulpwood, fine dining,

Retired from CBMR in 2001. Mueller family in 2004.

Died in Lagrange, Georgia in April 17, 2011.

A Selective History of Crested Butte and CBMR: Gold miners invade the Ute Indian land which would later become Crested Butte.Explorer Ferdinand Hayden, upon seeing Gothic & Crested Butte

calls them the “Crested Buttes”. Crested Butte is formally incorporated with a population of 300.The Denver & Rio Grande railroad reaches Crested Butte. The first large coal

mine, Jokerville, opens on Gibson Ridge. Jokerville mine explodes killing 58 miners. Big Mine opens on the Bench and closes 58 years later in 1952. The Denver & Rio Grande railroad tracks are removed. Keystone Mine & Mill

on Mount Emmons is formed becoming the mainstay of the Crested Butte economy until

Dr. Hubert Winston Smith of Texas begins the Law-Science Academy signaling the beginning of the vacation era.

Dick Eflin and Fred Rice open the Crested Butte Ski Area.

Graduated from Marion Military Institute in 1949 and Auburn University in 1951 with a

Served 2 years in the US Army Signal Corps as a first lieutenant and later on the top

Recruited by Westinghouse Electric Corporation where he worked for 16 years until

krupt Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) in 1970 from 7 Kansas

partners: cattle, sod, pulpwood, fine dining,

Gold miners invade the Ute Indian land which would later become Crested Butte. ested Butte Mountains,

Crested Butte is formally incorporated with a population of 300. The Denver & Rio Grande railroad reaches Crested Butte. The first large coal

Big Mine opens on the Bench and closes 58 years later in 1952. The Denver & Rio Grande railroad tracks are removed. Keystone Mine & Mill

he Crested Butte economy until

Science Academy signaling

CSSM Hall of Fame Nomination of Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr. Career Timeline, Page 2

• 1963 – Italian Carlevaro & Savio gondola opens battling Vail for the first in Colorado. • 1970 – Bo Callaway and Ralph Walton purchase the 9-year-old Crested Butte Ski Area

from bankruptcy. • 1974 – Town of Mt. Crested Butte is incorporated. • 1975 – First jet air service into Gunnison airport. • 1975 – The Forest Service agrees to make 2,000 acres of intermediate terrain on

Snodgrass Mountain available for expansion. • 1978 – Snowmaking installed after the no-snow “Year of Un”. • 1981 - Amax shelves plans to develop mining holdings on Red Lady Mountain above

Crested Butte, citing a decline in molybdenum prices, • 1982 – The Forest Service approves expanding CBMR’s Special Use Permit to include

1,550 acres on Snodgrass Mountain. • 1984 – Second snowmaking segment installed. • 1985 –American Airlines non-stop jet service begins under a new minimum revenue

guarantee agreement. • 1986 – Gunnison/Crested Butte Airport runway is extended in a multi-million dollar

expansion supported by CBMR. The 262-room condominium hotel, the Grande Butte, opens slopeside in Mt. Crested Butte, but fails to sell due to federal tax law changes.

• 1987 – Adaptive Sports Center founded by President and Mrs. Carter as the Physically Challenged Ski Program. North Face lift is installed opening extreme terrain for lift served skiing.

• 1991 – The High Lift opens and the now-famous Extreme Limits are fully open to the public. The first US Extreme Freeskiing Championship, a televised event owned by CBMR. The first year of Ski Free.

• 1992 – Grande Butte Hotel is repurchased from lender. First detachable quad, Silver Queen, opens.

• 1994 – Second detachable quad, Paradise, opens. • 1995 – Phase I of the Mountainlair Hotel opens. • 1996 – Snodgrass expansion application to the Forest Service is withdrawn. • 1998 – Third detachable quad, Keystone, opens. Grande Butte Hotel is rebranded under

a franchise agreement with Marriott International. Phase II of the Mountainlair Hotel is finished and the 252-room facility is flagged with Sheraton. 550,000 skier days is reached, a new CBMR record.

• 1999 – The historic three-way land exchange between the US Forest Service, the State Land Board and CBMR is consummated.

• 2000 – Crested Butte Marriott is sold to Club Med. • 2001 – Prospect at Mt. Crested Butte is annexed, zoned and subdivided for phase I. • 2004 – Callaways and Waltons sell CBMR Tim and Diane Mueller.

CSSM Hall of Fame Nomination of Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr. Biography, Page 1

Biography of Ralph OAchievements

Ralph Walton’s career in the ski industry spans three decades as coMountain Resort (CBMR). Joining his brotherarea from seven Kansas banks,thriving year-round destination.skier-day growth outpaced the 550,000 in 1998. The Callaway-Walton partnership expanded when Edward Callaway and Scout Walton 1984 and 1993, respectively, butcultural leader until his retirement in 2001. and Ralph passed away in 2011. His distinguishing him as a true Colorado 1. Directed $100+ million in

• Installed 15 lifts and grew• Constructed 4 mountain restaurant and skier

first elevator. • Oversaw opening of lift• Installed initial snowmaking• Obtained decreed water rights

since the ski mountain acted as a reservoir holding the water for later downstream uses, Colorado water law first

2. Developed CBMR’s core

• Incorporated the Town of Mt. Crested Butte in 1974.• Led development of 700,000

including 514 hotel rooms• Negotiated franchise agreements with M

scores earned top-ten recognition• Planned and entitled North Village• Oversaw the first land exchange since 1964

in a three-way swap with

Biography of Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr. Achievements of a Colorado Ski Industry Sport Builder

February 14, 2012

career in the ski industry spans three decades as co-owner of. Joining his brother-in-law, Bo Callaway, in 1970 to purchase the ski

area from seven Kansas banks, Ralph helped transform a struggling coal mining town destination. During his 31-year tenure of active management

the state as a whole from a base of 75,000 skier

Walton partnership expanded when Edward Callaway and Scout Walton respectively, but Ralph always remained the company’s driving force

until his retirement in 2001. The Callaways and Waltons sold CBMR in 2004passed away in 2011. His legacy includes a long list of accomplishments

Colorado “Sport Builder”.

million in physical plant investment at CBMR. and grew skiable domain to 1,100+ acres and 3,000

Constructed 4 mountain restaurant and skier service buildings, including the County’s

lift -served Extreme Limits, 500 acres of double black nowmaking system in 1978, expanded in 1984 to cover

Obtained decreed water rights by proving that snowmaking was not a consumptive use since the ski mountain acted as a reservoir holding the water for later downstream uses,

law first.

core base village, as well as neighboring subdivisionsIncorporated the Town of Mt. Crested Butte in 1974.

700,000+ square feet of condominiums and commercial spacerooms and three employee-housing projects.

Negotiated franchise agreements with Marriott and Sheraton, whose guest satisfaction recognition.

North Village and Town Center planned-unit developmentOversaw the first land exchange since 1964 between the USFS and the

with CBMR in 1999.

Sport Builder

owner of the Crested Butte 1970 to purchase the ski mining town into a

active management, CBMR’s skier-days to a peak of

Walton partnership expanded when Edward Callaway and Scout Walton joined in driving force and sold CBMR in 2004,

accomplishments

and 3,000+ vertical feet. service buildings, including the County’s

Limits, 500 acres of double black terrain. cover 250 acres.

by proving that snowmaking was not a consumptive use since the ski mountain acted as a reservoir holding the water for later downstream uses, a

subdivisions.

commercial space,

and Sheraton, whose guest satisfaction

unit developments. and the State Land Board


• Developed Gold Link, Villas and Prospect phase 1 subdivisions. 3. Led all lender relationships and recapitalization efforts.

• Maintained senior contact with US Bank and other local lenders. • Orchestrated timely asset dispositions: residential lots in 1970, Mountainlair Ranch in

1981, Marriott to Club Med in 2000. • Secured public financing for the Gunnison airport expansion and construction of

employee apartments. 4. Contributed to a variety of community causes.

• Revitalized the Union Congregational Church founded in 1882 with the 5 remaining members.

• Started “Mountain Chapel” services in 1980. • Assisted employees with financial assistance; extended 401(k) and health insurance

benefits to returning seasonal employees. • Supported local ski programs: middle school ski day, junior racing, Nor-Am, Adaptive

Sports Center since 1987. • Forged a partnership with Western State College: student passes, scholarship program,

ski team, recreation management curriculum, political support. 5. Sponsored a variety of media-rich marketing events and groups.

• Ski Free, community-based lift ticket promotion. • ESPN Winter X Games in 1998 and 1999, Colorado’s first. • National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic sponsored by the Disabled American

Veterans. • US Extreme Championships for skiing and snowboarding. • President and Mrs. Carter’s Winter Weekend benefitting the Atlanta Project. • American Airlines Celebrity Ski for Cystic Fibrosis. • BMI Country in the Rockies benefitting the TJ Martel Foundation.

6. Pioneered non-stop jet service into regional mountain airports.

• Inaugurated first direct service chartered on Eastern Airlines from Atlanta in 1970. • Secured the first direct air service scheduled into Gunnison from Denver in 1974. • Created the first ever minimum revenue guarantee agreement with American Airlines in

1985, which provided over 218,000 seats over the first 10-year contract period direct into Gunnison from Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.

• Negotiated air service agreements with United, Delta, Continental and others resulting in 40,000-50,000 deplanements each winter.

• Spearheaded the modernization of the Gunnison airport and terminal in 1986, including a 10,600 foot runway – the third longest in Colorado – a parallel taxiway, full ILS, a PAPI and high-intensity lighting visual approach.

• This cutting-edge airline strategy served as a template for Steamboat, Vail, Purgatory, and other western ski towns resulting in millions invested in airport expansions and guarantee programs.


7. Exhibited industry-wide leadership on state and national tourism associations. • Served on the board of directors of Colorado Ski Country USA for 18 years from 1983 to

2001, including 3 years as chairman. • Spearheaded many domestic and international promotions: Forbes yacht, snow skiing in

Miami, Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent, events in Sydney and London.

• Lobbied for the Colorado Skier Safety Act and formed the CSC Political Action Committee.

• Served on the NSAA board of directors from 1990 to 1993. • Oversaw the NSAA/USIA study of the ski industry with McKinsey & Co. • Received NSAA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. • Recognized by Congressman Scott McGinnis in the US House of Representatives as a ski

industry leader in 2001. • Represented Colorado at the Munich sister city airport inaugural with Mayor’s

delegation. • Attended opening of Japanese trade office and Denver Chamber in Mexico.

8. Tirelessly coached industry brethren to develop more appropriate business behaviors.

• With southern colloquialisms: o “The time to take the biscuit is when it is passed.” o “Don’t cut the cat’s tail off an inch at a time.” o “Let’s take another kick at the cat.” o “That dog won’t hunt.” o “Let’s run that up the flagpole and see who salutes it.”

• By mixing madras with checks and plaids. • In negotiations:

o By employing the “basket” concept: storing up contentious issues to be addressed after solidifying agreement on others.

o By telling long and confusing stories to the point that all parties forgot why they were disagreeing in the first place.

• In general, consistently available for advice and assistance for friends and competitors alike.


Nomination of Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr.

Representative Photographs

February 14, 2012, Page 1 of 12

At work in the Axtell Building(1998)

Relaxing with the paper (1966)

Partying at Eflin’s Steak House (1971)

With Clark Clifford (1970)





The annual purchase at the County stock show (1991)

Basking n the parking lot (1970) Sporting the mustache (1984)

Loading the J-Bar (1970) Delta’s test flight into Montrose (1983)





Master of ceremonies(1994)

Doug Cogswell, Harry Mosgrove, Jerry Groswold, Sherry Shelton (1995)

At Paradise Warming House (1987)





With partner/brother-in-law, Bo Callaway (1983)

Ralph and Martha first date in CB (1970)

With wife, Martha, sister Beth and brother-in-law Bo (2000)





With Bo and Edward Callaway (1985)

With grandkids(2000) Granddad’s turtleneck(2010)





Callaway & Walton families (1976)

Callaway & Walton families (1997)





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CB/MCB POPULATION

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CBMR SKIER DAYS, 1970-2001





Fond memories from Ralph’s 80th birthday party, June 2010

With Sherry Shelton and Thom Cox

With Judy Cox and Andy Daly

With Bob Knous

With Martina, Brittain and Veronica Walton





With Martin Hart and Clayton Peterson

My point is this … With Jerry Groswold and Ed O’Brien





With daughter, Chic Darby

With Bo Callaway

Keep your seats!

The Sugar Plum Ferry with Cathy Kruzic and Janie McCullum





Pat Lee with an Aspen Airways story

With Kent Myers and Martin Hart

Walter Aue





As we all knew him (2010)

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