Franklin "FC" Emery

For more than half a century Frank Emery has been actively involved in skiing but not just as a skier. Actual skiing has been closer to three quarters of a century . His involvement goes much deeper and has been very important to Maine skiing. An early interest in competition led him to take an active role in junior ski racing, which he pursued as race chairman of the Downeast Ski Club. He was directly responsible for that club's heavy involvement in junior racing for years.

His activities included serving as a race official at every level from junior to World Cup. He worked as a starter for Jr. I and II races and when the World cup came to Sugarloaf in the Tall Timber Classic in 1971. During races at Pleasant Mountain, now Shawnee Peak, Frank could always be found at the start or finish, if not in an official capacity, as a volunteer just helping out.

When his sons took up racing he started a race team in Westbrook and took up the job of coach. He transported carloads of racers to events and worked tirelessly in the hill. In addition to working on the hill at races he served the organizations of skiing as a director of USEASA and as President of the Maine Ski Council. His work for the Downeast Ski Club as race chairman and president led to his being awarded a lifetime membership. He was a tireless fund raiser for race programs and ski events and few events were held in Maine without his presence. Following a visit to the National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, Michigan he returned to Maine to encourage skiers to join that organization, just one more way for Frank Emery to promote his sport.

For most this would have been plenty, but Frank also found time to serve as a member of the Pleasant Mountain volunteer ski patrol. For his dedication he received a prestigious National Appointment (No. 4145) from the National Ski Patrol, an organization he served for 20 years.

Frank got involved in every aspect of skiing. As one of the three founders of Ski Spree Wax, he spread his bronze colored wax throughout the East and even to many shops in the West. Skiers were advised to "Ski the bronze", and this popular rub on became the regular choice for spring skiing, East and West. This led him to work as a rep selling a line of ski clothes and accessories which brought Ski Spree to even more shops and skiers.

After a trip to Europe he became a pied piper leading groups of skiers to Austria, Aspen and Tahoe. There was no part of skiing that escaped his attention and even though he finally had to give up skiing in his eighties he still promotes the sport. Through a lifetime of devotion to the sport of skiing,

Frank Emery's contribution has earned a place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.