ISHOF Inductees - 2003

Marilyn Ruediger | Don & Charlotte Haynes | Richard Harrison

Marilyn Ruediger - Promoter / Journalist
Spearfish, South Dakota

Marilyn Ruediger

In 1967, Marilyn joined the South Dakota Snowmobile Association (SDSA) and served as President for the Spearfish Snowcruisers Snowmobile Club from 1981 - 1983. For the past 20 years, she has been editing/publishing the South Dakota Sno-Plainsman. Marilyn was instrumental in forming the media council at the 1985 International Snowmobile Congress (ISC) in Rapid City, South Dakota.  She served as Vice President from 1990 - 1994 and as Secretary from 1999 to present. In addition to these interests, she has participated in the Easter Seals "For Women Only" ride every year since its inception in 1997. Marilyn received the 2001 Outstanding Volunteer award from the Easter Seals of South Dakota. She actively participates in the South Dakota Multi-Use Coalition and the Black Hills Multiple Use Coalition (BHRMUC) and works to keep snowmobiling open in South Dakota. Marilyn is also involved with many other SDSA activities. Marilyn promotes the sport by using the Sno-Plainsman as a vehicle to educate her readers about issues surrounding the sport and to entice new people to try the sport. She is devoted to snowmobiling as both a participant and ardent advocate.

Don and Charlotte Haynes - Trail and Program Developers
Jordan Station - Ontario CANADA

As a team, they have served as Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) volunteers for 27 years, founding the OFSC Driver Training Program in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). Don and Charlotte have been an integral part of the success of the Driver Training Program. They have traveled many miles/kilometers to help this program emulated by other Provinces, Territories and States of North America. In 1980, the Ontario Snowmobile Operator Safety Training Program received certification from the Snowmobile Safety and Certification Committee (SSCC) in Washington, D.C. Don had represented OFSC in formally accepting the certification plaque. Throughout the years, Don and Charlotte had graduated 6,875 students with a volunteer staff of 20 Master Instructors and 407 Club Instructors. Together they introduced a new Driver Training Logo, submitted Driver Training Instructors and Students Handbook to MTO for approval, introduced a new Instructors Video and helped move the Driver Training office to Barrie, Ontario. Upon their retirement in 2001, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario honored them with a plaque and certification in recognition of their accomplishments and dedication to the Ontario Operator Safety Training Program. Their personal commitment and unwavering dedication to this program has given them the respect of snowmobilers internationally.

Charlotte and Don Haynes

Richard Harrison - Inventors / Manufacturer
Crosby, Minnesota

Richard is the co-inventor of the Trail-A-Sled (TAS) snowmobile which later was called Scorpion. His engineering vision for improved design helped make the Scorpion's parts the best on the market. Visit www.trailasled.com to find out more information on its past history. The co-founders of TAS, Richard Harrison, Glen Gutzman and Eugene Harrison (Richard's father), were inspired by Bombardier's Ski-Doo snowmobiles and fashioned their first prototype snowmobile in 1961. It featured fiberglass and plywood construction with a rudimentary cleated track. Richard later conceived the idea to take two (2) links of detachable steel chain, combined with rubber and fabric mesh to create a continuous track. The seamless rubber track for snowmobiles was patented in 1964. Unlike many other firms who acted merely as assemblers, TAS was an in-house developer of their parts and accessories. TAS also produced a wide range of products for other manufactures including Boatel, Brainerd Marine, Sears Roebuck, Polaris, Foxx, Silverline and Laurentide. On November 2, 1967 a fire broke out and TAS lost numerous parts as well as company records and documents. The founders, employees and community at large helped re-establish the Company. In 1969, the Company's name was changed to Scorpion, Inc. and later, in 1970, it was purchased by Fuqua Enterprises. The decade of the 70s proved to be tumultuous as with other snowmobile manufacturers. In the end, Scorpion was acquired by Arctic Cat. After Richard sold his interest in Scorpion, he turned his energy to land development in Northern Minnesota, which also promoted recreational activity, including snowmobiling. His efforts and inventive engineering skills were a key part of the evolution of snowmobiling.

Richard Harrison