In 1962, at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, a group of ski area owners and operators gathered from around the country to discuss the feasibility of a national association of ski areas. Among the urgent needs of the time were the relief from a chaotic and worsening climate for ski area insurance, standardization of trail classification and signage, establishment of national lift standards, a coordinated policy on public lands issues. Indeed, much the same platter we have today, but then more fresh, and untested.
It is significant that the group that gathered, which included some ski world heavyweights like “Darcy” Brown of Aspen, turned to the owner of a tiny ski area in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts to be their leader. David Judson, then 53 and the president of Eastern Ski Area Operators Association, was elected president of the association they formed on the spot and named National Ski Areas Association. He was re-elected in 1963 and 1964.
It is hard to give today’s ski area executive a sense of what this man accomplished in those relatively early days in our industry. A contribution of equivalent significance today is impossible to imagine.
Dave Judson, together with other leaders at the time — the likes of Bill Norton, Darcy Brown, Perry Williams, Steve Bradley come to mind — laid incredibly sure and sound foundations on which the industry was able to grow in the dynamic decades of the 1960’s and 1970’s.
In his leadership role, David had the grace, wit and strength to forge consensus on a score of thorny situations the industry faced. There was no money to throw at problems in those days; the currency was commitment, patience, intelligence, persuasion and integrity — a currency in which Dave could be counted rich. There was no overblown ego to get in his way, no flashiness, no strutting or posturing. The respect he got from his peers came from the fundamental decency of the man, his values, his convictions.
Rumpled he was in appearance, quiet and unassuming in manner; some might say a bit shy. But he knew where he was going and how to get there. He was steady; people had confidence and followed him. David Judson was a leader. Our industry is in his debt.
