ISHOF Inductees - 2007
Elmer Wm. Cone - Volunteer and Club Organizer
Bovey, Minnesota
Elmer Wm. Cone
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Since around 1966 Elmer has been and continues to be involved with snowmobiling and other recreational opportunities. Around 1966 Elmer purchased his first snowmobile which he used for farming, trapping, cruising for timber, and family entertainment. He has since been a club President, Secretary, Treasurer, Trail Coordinator, groomer operator, and landowner. Elmer has designed grooming drags, one for a snowmobile and a hydraulic one for behind a larger groomer. He designed his own double bladed wear rods. Elmer also designed and built snowmobile bridges which were installed and removed every season on local trails. He has been a member of the following organizations: Lawron Trail Riders, International Snowmobile Association, Minnesota United Snowmobile Association (MnUSA), Swampsiders Snowmobile Club and Iron Dog Brigade to mention a few. He was the Vice President for 30 years and currently Secretary for the Itasca County Snowmobile Alliance. In 1986, Elmer Co-Chaired for the Grand Opening of the Taconite Trail and was a member of the IRRRB Snowmobile Advisory Board in 1983. Through early trail development and other recreation, Elmer promoted and cofounded the Itasca County Park and Recreation Commission in 1979, and the Blandin Trails Task Force in1982. Elmer received the Volunteer Service award from the Itasca County Board of Commissioners in 1983,1986 and 1987. It was during the years of the Park and Recreation Commission and the Task Force when Elmer recognized the need for volunteers to be recognized themselves. It was then, in 1984, that the idea of the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame was born and in 1990 was the first induction. Elmer's knowledge of snowmobiling from the ground person clearing trails to organization skills has helped him inspire people worldwide to preserve the traditions of snowmobiling for years to come.
Article about Elmer from Snowmobile.com |
Dale Vagts - Volunteer and Program Developer
Cresco, Iowa
Dale Vagts
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Dale has dedicated over 40 years of service to snowmobiling and first got into snowmobiling in 1967 while living in Minnesota. In 1982, Dale and Joyce moved to Cresco where Dale quickly became involved with the Drift Runners Snowmobile Club. In 1983, Dale was instrumental in re-introducing the popular Sno-Fest to the Cresco winter scene. It once again quickly became the largest most popular winter event in Iowa with several thousand snowmobilers converging on Cresco for the weekend. Dale decided to become involved with the Iowa State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) in 1983 and was elected Director for Region 5. He later went on to serve as ISSA's Vice President from 1988-1990 and President from 1990-1992. He was instrumental in bringing the ISSA annual Charity ride to Cresco in 1985. The Charity ride and brunch was held in conjunction with the Sno-Fest until 2001. In 1985, Dale and Dan Martin exclusively designed and presented to EMC Insurance Companies a unique snowmobile trail liability insurance program. V&V Insurance wrote policies for Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota the first years, spreading to as many as 24 states in the coming years. Over twenty years later, V&V Insurance is still insuring more than 700 clubs in 20 states. This program drastically changed and improved trail liability insurance for snowmobile clubs nationwide. An Iron Dog Brigade member since 1983, Dale continues to work tirelessly every day for snowmobiling, locally and nationally.
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