Hi Scott,
I was a ski instructor for MTU ski classes and Mont Ripley from 1978-79 through the 1982-83 season. I worked under Fred Lansdorf until he retired, then stepped into his place as Ski School Director for the 1982-83 season. I have many great memories of skiing, teaching, and working at Ripley!
Peter Budnick, ’83
Thank you so much for sharing your memories at Mont Ripley! -SW
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It is only logical that MTU had an abundance of snow on our campus in early February, and the students at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, TX had an abundance of beautiful women on their campus. So, we shipped them snow so they could have a snowball fight and in return they sent their All-Campus Beauty Queen to Houghton for our Winter Carnival. I do believe MTU got the better part of that deal!
During the 1975 Winter Carnival I was on the Blue Key Queen’s Committee assisting the legendary MTU hockey player Bruce Abbey. We were responsible for conducting the Winter Carnival Queen contest and also hosting the All-Campus Beauty Queen from Southwest Texas State University. Anne Lochte arrived at the Hancock airport during a full blown blizzard on Thursday (All Nighter night) wearing nothing but a windbreaker which she referred to as her only winter coat. Fortunately, our queen, Ann Mary Moore, quickly took her in and arranged for her to have an appropriate parka with a fur hood that Ms. Lochte wore throughout the weekend. I had the task of accompanying the queens to various events during the weekend and had a blast getting to know Anne. Here is a picture from the 1975 Winter Carnival Pictorial of the two Queens.
I was very fortunate to be elected president of Blue Key for the 1976 Winter Carnival and was surprised to receive an invitation from queen Anne Lochte to serve as a judge for the 1976 All-Campus Beauty Pageant at Southwest Texas State University. I left Houghton on a snowy November day and landed in San Antonio, TX where I was met by 80 degree sunshine and a contingent from Southwest Texas State. I spent the next three days in a whirlwind of activities but was truly overwhelmed by having 30 beautiful contestants trying their best to win my vote. It was a little bit of heaven on earth, that is for sure! Hard as it was, we picked a winner and Stacey Holland made the trek to Houghton for the 1976 Winter Carnival. Here is picture of me congratulating the winner in San Marcos, TX!
In 2015 the student newspaper at what is now known as the University of Texas at San Marcos did a story about the MTU snow shipments and the SWTSU queen travels to the MTU Winter Carnival. They tracked me down for an interview and after my interview they also interviewed Anne Lochte, the 1975 Queen, who was living in San Antonio. When they told Anne they had interviewed me she asked them for my contact information. When Anne called my cell phone it just so happened that I was in San Antonio meeting with clients. We got together for dinner that evening and had a wonderful time remembering that Winter Carnival experience 40 years ago. I can attest that the years had been very kind to Anne and she retained her beautiful spirit and charm. Me, on the other hand, had obviously been rode hard and put away wet, as they say in Texas!
John M. Helge ’76
Great memories! Thanks for sharing not only about shipping the snow to Texas but of the history with the queen pageant with the two universities! -SW
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I had a great time building three statues at St. Al’s, but the best times were spent developing and rehearsing our skits. The very best time was when our whistling bellies took the first place trophy in 1970.
Greg Switek ’72
Thanks for the fun memory! From the archives, here’s the picture of the whistling bellies. Such a fun photo. I am sure the skit was a hit with the audience while watching these four march to the Colonel Boogie Whistle March from the movie Bridge on the River Kwai! -SW
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You never know where making snowballs will lead to. This picture is the header for this year’s 50th class of ’67 reunion webpage. The picture was cut off for this purpose, so you can’t see that we were making the snowballs to be shipped to Texas. The guys were the Blue Key officers (left to right: Tom Rood, me, Mike Healy, and Jim Lowell). The young lady who “photo bombed” us is freshman Jackie Jarvis. Long story short, Jackie and I are entering our 50th year of marriage. Jackie and I will be at this year’s reunion. Hope to see these guys and all our classmates too.
Don Ingersoll ’67
Congratulations to you and Jackie on 50 years of marriage! We look forward to seeing you at this year’s reunion on August 3-5, 2017 at Michigan Tech to celebrate your 50th year graduating. Here’s the photo you referenced. -SW
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Yes, in the 1970s Michigan Tech sent snowballs to Texas, and they sent their homecoming queen up to Michigan Tech during winter carnival. There were a few photos of the queens from Texas in the 1977-1980 yearbooks. I don’t remember when the exchange stopped.
John Pozega ’80
Thanks for the memories about this tradition. I wonder why it stopped, too. -SW
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Hi,
Here is a cool event that is going on in Houghton this winter that I thought would interest Michigan Tech alumni.
A vintage snowmobile (sled) was placed on the frozen Portage Canal just west of the lift bridge as part of the “Sink the Sled” contest sponsored by the Houghton Rotary. Tickets will be sold for a chance to predict when the sled will fall through the ice.
Tickets can be purchased online at SinkTheSled.com. There is also webcam video and pictures of the sled and the work that was done to make it eco-friendly before it falls through the ice.
Guesses are for $5 each or 3 for $10. The winning ticket will receive 50 percent of the net sales up to $1,000. The remaining proceeds will support the Houghton Rotary’s scholarship program and other community activities.
Carrie Richards ’84
Great contest and nice way to support Houghton Rotary. Thank you for sharing! Here’s a picture of the sled making its way onto the canal. Please keep us updated about when the sled sinks. -SW
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On August 27, 2016, our father and Michigan Tech grad from the Class of 1962, Harbans Singh, left this beautiful earth. Our father was a great man and a once in a generation business man.
He very fondly remembered his time in Houghton and made sure we remembered that he received a great education and wonderful experience at Michigan Tech. His dealings with the Deans and Presidents were great. He was the first man to graduate with a turban from your school. He was super proud of that.
In 1960, our father came from India to the U.S. with no money. From California, he ended up at Michigan Tech at a time when he was unhappy and unsure he would succeed in America. Michigan Tech was a great experience, and he met many wonderful friends and teachers. He completed his degree very confidently.
After his Civil Engineering degree in 1962, our father worked for the State of Illinois until he founded and created Eagle Grips, the world’s largest producer of custom hand gun grips.
Tej M. Singh, MD, MBA
Chief, Vascular Surgery
Director, Mitchell Vascular Center
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story about your father, such a wonderful tribute to his memory. -SW