The National Ski Areas Association awarded its NSAA Lifetime Achievement Award to Channing Murdock, owner and operator of Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
The announcement was made today at the NSAA National Convention and Trade Show held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary lifetime commitment to NSAA and the ski industry and whose contribution will benefit the industry for decades to come.
"This is the ninth consecutive year that NSAA has presented this award," said NSAA President Michael Berry. "These individuals deserve to be recognized for devoting their careers to growing the sport and for their efforts in supporting NSAA."
Murdock has earned his reputation for investing time and money into his mountain with respect to snowmaking, grooming and skier facilities, while maintaining a friendly, family atmosphere. More than 3 million people received their first ski experience on the area's slopes.
Butternut has earned several deserving awards, including the prestigious, First Place, Environmental Showcase Award from Ski Magazine in 1975 and the National Ski Area Design award from Snow Country magazine for having the "Best Day Lodge Under $2 million" in 1994.
The area opened in December 1963 as a result of hard work and a vision of Murdock and his wife, Jane. "We were only 25 years old at the time. We started off as the young kids on the block and now we are some of the only ones still on the block," said Murdock. "Everything we did, we did ourselves and with the help of our employees. This home-grown spirit remains today. This spirit has proven well for us, for almost every year has been profitable. We are very proud of this," added Murdock.
The past years have been especially challenging for Murdock who is recovering from a serious bicycle accident that occurred in 1994. Butternut also recovered from a severe tornado that hit his area in May 1995 which damaged five of the area's eight lifts and caused a million dollars worth of damage.
Murdock has contributed significantly to the ski area industry during the past 35 years. He has served as president of the Massachusetts Ski Areas Association; president of the Eastern Ski Areas Association, which transitioned into NSAA during his tenure; a founder, president and director of New England Ski Areas Council; and the founder of the Massachusetts Tramway Board.
Additionally, he served as a member of the B77 Committee Standards for Aerial Passenger Tramways. At NSAA, Murdock was very active, especially during the 1970s and '80s when he served on the board of directors, as the secretary, vice chair, and in 1988-89 he served as chair.
The National Ski Areas Association serves as the trade association for ski area owners and operators. The association began in 1962 and is located in Lakewood, Colorado.
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North Adams Double Murder Case Continued to March
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The case of a city man charged with killing his parents was continued to March on Monday.
Darius Hazard, 44, was scheduled for a detention hearing on Monday in Northern Berkshire District Court.
Prior to the start of the court's business, the clerk announced that Hazard's case was continued to Monday, March 2.
Hazard is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson in connection with the Nov. 24 fire that claimed the lives of Donald Hazard, 83, and Venture Hazard, 76.
Police say Hazard confessed to the killings and starting the fire and fled the Francis Street home where he lived with his parents.
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