"Behind that million-dollar smile was a kind, caring and generous man, who gave the same attention to an

Olympic competitor or a five-year-old in a black snowmobile suit."

"In the late 60’s, 70’s ,80’s and 90’s, Mike was everywhere, selling, supporting, and sponsoring Maine skiers. From the Ski Rack shops in Livermore (69-92), the Valley Crossing (72-77), the Access Road (77-92), the Touring Center, Lost Valley (18 years)) and Bangor (78-85), Mike was there with a gravelly tenor and a hint of Livermore Falls colloquialism talking about skiing day and night. Always working an angle or crafting the genesis of a deal, Mike made sure that Maine’s youth were well served and had the skiing equipment they needed to hit the slopes. Challenging skiing’s giants, Mike made the Western Mountains of Maine the epicenter of skiing and winning. And Mike’s fast talk came with a flash of wit and a story that made everyone laugh, but what went unspoken was his undeterred support of everyone who loved to ski. Behind that million-dollar smile was a kind, caring and generous man, who gave the same attention to an Olympic competitor or a five-year-old in a black snowmobile suit".

Thomas Morrill

letter nominating Mike

Skiing Magazine, November, 1971

Tom Morrill tells this story about Mike. "Much of what Mike did was ironically done quietly without fanfare. In the late 80’s when I was Principal of the K-8 Kingfield Elementary School, Mike had another “awesome” idea. He worked with Rossignol to bring 40 pair of cross-country skis, boots, and poles permanently to the school. Teachers now had the flexibility of taking their classrooms cross country skiing anytime. Randy Easter, our middle level math and science teacher, seized this opportunity and had his classes ski on most days. And through the years cross country skiing, exploring the woods behind Winn Robinson and Billy Gilmore’s and up Freeman Ridge, became part of the curriculum."

Randy Easter says, "I would ask my students if they wanted to work on math homework or go skiing. Most of them wanted to ski. They only had phys ed once a week so it was great to get them outside in the fresh air for 20 or 30 minutes a few times a week. The kids all got along, it was fun and a great experience for them. Mike not only arranged for the 40 pair of skis, boots and poles but he also made sure we had waxes and anything else we needed."

Talking with Mike is a way to relive the past, to see what helped build our sport. Mike tells this story, "I helped organize one of the first fundraisers for Carrabassett Valley Academy. We sold a lot of Rossignol skis so I asked for their help. Rossignol brought in five French Chefs. We hosted a dinner at the Portland Club, prepared by those five chefs. We charged $100 a plate [$370 in today's dollars]. We had a full house and raised a lot of money for CVA."

Upcoming:

• Every other week we will profile a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023
• The Class of 2023 will be inducted at a Celebration on Saturday, November 4th. Details to attend will be available in August.
• Is there someone you think should be in the Hall of Fame? The forms and guidelines to make a nomination are on our web site:

https://www.maineskiandsnowboardmuseum.org/hall-of-fame



We thank the International Skiing History Association and Franklin Savings Bank for their grants

in support of our Hall of Fame Exhibits.

We recently asked if you liked detail and depth to these stories

and 83% responded with "Yes".



For you 83%, here is more.

Mike says, "We always sold a lot of Rossignol skis. Probably one of our best skis was that teal colored Rossi 4S. It was used by some of the best, well known, skiers like Alberto Tomba. It was a solid performing ski that better skiers really enjoyed skiing on."

Skiing Magazine, October, 1988

"When I was a kid, Mike Gammon brought in skiers like Wayne Wong, Billy Kidd, John Clendenin and other freestyle skiers to the Ski Rack in Livermore Falls every fall. They set up ski decks in the parking lot for them to ski on. Mike was a marketing genius and knew how to build excitement for the upcoming ski season."

Ron Jacques

Along with Mike, Ron is being inducted this year into the Hall of Fame.

"I grew up in Vermont. After college I worked at the Downhill edge in Burlington. I moved to Maine and began working for Mike at the Ski Rack in Livermore Falls. My first fall working for Mike I was showing a customer a new pair of skis, I worked hard to sell them but they were not deciding. Mike walked by, smiled and said,"You'll like those skis." The customer bought them. That was when I understood the charisma of Mike Gammon. He liked people and they liked him."

Glenn Parkinson

"My relationship with Mike began in the late 1960's when my family bought ski equipment from The Ski Rack in Livermore Falls. This led to a long time friendship and business situation that became one of him sponsoring me through Rossignol skis as I was a ski instructor at Sugarloaf in the 1980's. I worked at the Sugarloaf Ski Rack for several years selling soft goods, and promoting the Rossignol company. Mike was always very generous in supporting the Dan McKay Race which has become an annual scholarship event at Sugarloaf since 1982. My husband also remembers working with Mike in the early 1980's prepping for the Bump contests that were held on the Gondola Line trail at Sugarloaf. It was some of the first manmade moguls in the country and Mike was part of this history. Mike Gammon has certainly helped many young athletes in the past to achieve even World Cup standings!"

Jano - brother of Dan Mackay

For more information please visit

Maineskiandsnowboardmuseum.org

phone- 207-237-0064