April 6, 2007 (Long Beach, Calif.) – Dick Goetzman, a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president and trustee for nearly four decades and longtime trustee of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation, has died. He was 78 when he died Tuesday at his home following a series of recent health and medical problems, USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt said.

Goetzman, the president of Goetzman and Associates accounting firm, began as a Foundation trustee in 1968 and was a trustee emeritus at the time of his death. He served as USSA president in 1974-76. In 1978, he received the Julius P. Blegen Award, the highest award for longtime contributions to USSA, the national governing for Olympic skiing and snowboarding. He also was a former president of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, MI, and a trustee from 1988 until his death.

He was president of the Far West Ski Association in 1969-71 and received Far West’s J. Stanley Mullin Award for “decisive” contributions in 1969. In 1986, Goetzman received the Hans Georg Award for “distinguished accomplishment and long-term contribution.” He also was a former president of the Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs and treasurer of the Mammoth Lakes Foundation.

“Dick Goetzman was a textbook example of the volunteer spirit which was the backbone of USSA in its early days, and he helped smoothly bring about several major transitions in the company,” Marolt said. “Dick was involved as USSA and the Foundation were brought together in the late Nineties, and he also was a major player in the recent re-energizing of the Hall of Fame in Ishpeming.

“He was a tireless volunteer, putting in untold amounts of time to serve USSA, the Hall of Fame, and, among others, the Far West Ski Association. I’m not sure how he made time for so much, but I’m glad he was so committed because Dick made a huge difference for so many athletes through the years,” Marolt said.

Tom West, president and CEO of the Ski and Snowboard Hall, cited Goetzman’s service over nearly two decades. He was the first non-Ishpeming resident to be president of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame, West said, filling that post during 1998-2004 and was a board member of the Hall from 1988 until his death.

“He was not just a friend of USSA and the Ski Hall,” Marolt said, “but of all skiing, and we’ve all lost a great supporter of our sport.”

Funeral details were incomplete but a memorial service will be held at a date to be determined at California’s Mammoth Mountain.

Contributions in Goetzman’s memory may be made to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation at Box 100, Park City, UT 84060.