Vail Valley Voices

: Dave Garton and Packy Walker - Oral History with Bart Garton; Dave Garton (left) and Packy Walker are legendary jesters and practical jokers of Vail, Colorado. Residents since the 1960s, Walker and Garton share some of their favorite antics. They are interviewed by Dave's son, Bart Garton. Tony Mauro, the "Voice of Vail," hosted the oral history.

: Dave Garton and Packy Walker - Touchdown!; Dave Garton and Packy Walker enthusiastically support football at Battle Mountain High School in Eagle-Vail, Colorado. Photo context: Circa early 1980s, Walker had a good friend was an NFL referee who sent him 2 referee shirts. Walker and Garton wore the shirts to a local football game and joined the cheerleaders during the half-time festivities.

: Debbie Bolon-Feeney - Oral History; Debbie Bolon-Feeney discussed how she came to live in Colorado's Rocky Mountains with Tara Flanagan and Tony Mauro, the "Voice of Vail." Bolon-Feeney shared her 1976 - 1984 experience with Summervail Art Workshop (SAW), including the creative imprint left by ceramics instructor, Danny Martinez, and the inspiration of SAW progenitors: Randy Milhoan, Dan Telleen and Jim Cotter. She also discussed her life as an artist and art educator in the Vail Valley. Additionally, Bolon-Feeny expounded on her 1970s professional life with NBC as the Saturday Night Live programmer and how she was directly effected by Affirmative Action directives.

: Dick Pownall - Oral History; Dick Pownall, who was a member of the 1963 American Mount Everest Expedition (AMEE), discusses his role in the history of alpinism and technical climbing. Climbing extensively in North America and the Dolomites of Europe, as well as in the Armenian Highlands and in the Himalayas, Pownall was an early guide for Exum Guide Service in Grand Teton National Park area. Dick Pownall was also an original Vail ski instructor and a member of Vail Ski Patrol for many years. He built a cabin under Chair 1 in the early days of Vail. Pownall also had a climbing school in the Gore Range in the 1960s and 1970s. This interview was conducted by Walter Gallacher on 2016-01-18 at the home of Dick and Mary Pownall in Vail, Colorado.

: Dick Pownall Memorial - p1; Dick Pownall was an original Vail ski instructor and a member of Vail Ski Patrol for many years. He built a cabin under Chair 1 in the early days of Vail Village. Pownall also had a climbing school in the Gore Range in the 1960s and 1970s. In their retirement years, Dick and Mary Pownall avidly volunteered during World Cup ski events in North America and in Europe. Dick Pownall figures mightily in the history of alpinism and technical climbing. He was a member of the 1963 American Mount Everest Expedition (AMEE). He climbed extensively in North America and the Dolomites of Europe, as well as in the Armenian Highlands and in the Himalayas. Pownall was also an early guide for Exum Guide Service in Grand Teton National Park area.

: Dick Pownall Memorial - p2; Dick Pownall was an original Vail ski instructor and a member of Vail Ski Patrol for many years. He built a cabin under Chair 1 in the early days of Vail Village. Pownall also had a climbing school in the Gore Range in the 1960s and 1970s. In their retirement years, Dick and Mary Pownall avidly volunteered during World Cup ski events in North America and in Europe. Dick Pownall figures mightily in the history of alpinism and technical climbing. He was a member of the 1963 American Mount Everest Expedition (AMEE). He climbed extensively in North America and the Dolomites of Europe, as well as in the Armenian Highlands and in the Himalayas. Pownall was also an early guide for Exum Guide Service in Grand Teton National Park area.

: Dick and Joy Dirkes Care Community Newsletter p2; Newsletter article discusses the challenges of living in Eagle County, CO for Dick and Joy Dirkes.

: Doug McLaughlin, Dave Garton and Packy Walker - Kilted Gents of Vail; Doug McLaughlin, Dave Garton and Packy Walker embody the spirit of Vail's Irish-Scottish Festival parade. This one-time festival was held ca. 1985 in Ford Park - when the Park was still a large, open field. Longtime Vail local, Diana Donovan (who arrived in the 1960s), reported that the festival included a parade, traditional competitions, and a twelve bagpipe-band spectacle at Ford Park. Donovan also noted that the pipe band maneuvers, color, playing of Amazing Grace, and Gore Range background was both poignant and inspirational.

: Dr. Fred Distelhorst - Korean War; Earmarked in the Korea War "Doctor Draft" for the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division, Fred Distelhorst served in the dental department of the army medical corps between 1953 and 1955.

: Dr. Fred Distelhorst and Dr. Ines Fortmann - 1960 marriage; Four image collage (upper left - clockwise): 1) wedding announcement: "Dr. Ines Wilhelmine Fortmann and Dr. Fred William Distelhorst - Captain, United States Army; Announce Their Marriage on Friday February 28, 1960 at Bad Aibling, Germany" 2) Dr. Ines Fortmann and Dr. Fred Distelhorst - marriage ceremony image 3) Madison, WI newspaper article "Distelhorst to Visit Son, Bride in Germany During European Trip" 4) image of couple (probably Fred Distelhorst's parents) annotated "Mother's Birthday 9 May 1890; Father's Birthday 3 Feb 1892"

: Dr. Fred W. Distelhorst - Oral History; Vail early resident and orthodontist, Fred Distelhorst, discusses his youth in Madison, Wisconsin and his early experiences skiing in Wisconsin, Aspen and Europe. Dr. Distelhorst also expounds on his dental practice in Europe with the U.S. Army Dental Corps, his family orthodontic practice in East Vail (alongside wife Dr. Ines Distelhorst and daughter Dr. Dorothy Distelhorst), his love of family, and his life in Vail.

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