It is with great pleasure that Bill Murbach, the MWSA Hall of Fame rep, announces the 2017 MWSA Hall of Fame inductees! This years inductees will be David Anderson, Dan Connelly and Gerry Durocher. All three have made significant contributions to this great sport and are well deserving of this honor.
Anderson and Connelly will be inducted during the banquet at the Michigan State Championships on Sat July22. Durocher will be inducted, in memoriam, at a SLSC show in July.
Dave Anderson grew up skiing on the Lansing River where he honed his water skiing and show skiing skills. As a water skier he competed in all three events and was the Michigan Stage Jump champion in 1971. As a show skier he performed all show acts from barefooting, clowns, jumping, pyramids and kite flying. Dave became a professional show skier and performed in the Tommy Bartlett Ski Shows and the Sea World Shows in Ohio and San Diego. He performed the Delta Wing kite act in over 3000 shows during his career and routinely flew at heights of 1200 feet. Dave took 2nd place in the World Delta Wing competition in 1972 at Cyprus Gardens. At Sea World Ohio, Dave was part of the 1972 World & Guinness record for multiple barefooters behind one boat. In recent years Dave has competed in weightlifting and has set Michigan records. In 2013 he won the World Powerlifting Congress Nationals in his weight class.
Dan Connelly started skiing at six on public lakes. While Dan competes in slalom his significant contribution has been as an organizer, official and legislative liaison. Dan has been tournament director for over 50 tournaments including four Michigan State Championships. He co-founded the 8-buoy slalom series, hosted numerous “learn to ski” clinics, and is the longest serving member of the MWSA Board. Dan is a certified Judge, Scorer and Safety Director. Dan is the MWSA legislative liaison and works with government officials and the public on issues that affect lake access and boater rights. He is also the Midwest Region representative on the USAWS Legislative Committee.
Gerald Durocher, while unable to ski himself, raised his family skiing on Michigan public lakes and eventually gravitated to the Silver Lake Ski Club. Gerry found he could make his greatest contribution teaching his children, and countless others, to ski by providing them a consistent pull, while offering his insight, experience and patience. Gerry was the president of the SLSC for nine years. He was the show director, helped develop show themes and helped innovate numerous show ski acts. His true skill and passion was driving the SLSC shows where he was recognized numerous times as the top driver at the MWSA State Show Championships. He pursued excellence in all he has done in the sport, and has been an active community advocate for the sport of water ski. Gerry is an inspiration and role model to so many of the young people he has encountered while advancing the sport of water ski in Michigan and beyond.