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| Paul Johnson- Innsbruck ’63. Can you say 20.0? |
Story No. 15
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| Innsbruck ’63 (l-r) John Bower, John Balfanz, Ralph Semb, Paul Johnson, and Art Tokle |
Back in 65 or 66 I was sent to represent USA at the Canadian Nationals with Willie Erickson and the Jacobson twins. We landed in Ottawa and one of the Jacobson boys needed help off the plane because of illness or too many free drinks offered by the stewardesses. We were approached by a dandy English accented gentleman traveling with his mother. Keep in mind we were young and stupid and knew nobody would travel with their mother. We giggled and poked each other’s ribs at the sight. We competed in the tournament where I think I was third or fifth but that is not the point. Our departure flight was scheduled way too soon so we were in a panic mode changing out of ski gear in the men’s room at the airport. It was pretty much chaos and “Dummer” Jacobson claims he lost his plane ticket although I think he lost it playing acey deucey the night before. We are now up at the ticket counter trying to explain the predicament when this same dandy English accented gentleman, still with his mother, comes up and inquires as to the problem and our state of partial dress. He accepts Dummer’s story and pulls out his check book, pays for Dummer’s ticket, and says that “Your daddy can pay me back when and if he can”. The name on the check was the late and great Peter Jennings (went on to be long time ABC News anchor). I learned in an instant about Books and Covers.
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| Brian Welch in 2002 Olympics |
1 Comment
DON WEST writes-
I'm ready to stake a little chip off of my reputation that Paul Johnson mis-identified one jumper in the picture with Tokle & Balfanz. He says "Ralf Sims" and I'm betting this was Ralph Semb who still lives just down the river from you in Erving Mass. He runs French King Bowling Center there in Erving and has run it since I skied with him in 1966. He was hot at just the right time to have gone to Europe in 1963.
I skied with Paul Johnson before I moved east in 1965 but am cautioned in the assertion above by the fact that there was another Paul Johnson who skied later in the Central, taller and more blond. Paul-II comes around to our Masters events in St Paul and he was at your presentation in Eau Claire two years ago. I've attached a picture from 2010 with Paul-II in white shirt in back row.
Paul-I was smaller with dark hair. I'm hoping that you can send me Iron Mt Paul's email address because I think that he starred in a video made from a movie from the 1950's showing kids in Iron Mt learning to ski jump. I need to track down the video — so far no luck — because I want to ask Paul how the jumping careers went for all of the other kids named in the movie and maybe post something on the web page.