ISHOF Inductees - 2014

Gail Hanson - Trail & Program Developer
New Hampshire

Gail Hanson - 2014 Inductee to International Snowmobile Hall of Fame - Eagle River, WI
Gail Hanson
Twenty-one years ago, Gail stepped into snowmobiling as the secretary for a local New Hampshire snowmobile club. Nine years later, she became the first full-time Executive Director of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association, accepting responsibility for the association's day-to-day operation. That role also included working with New Hampshire's Division of Parks & Recreation, the State's Fish & Game Bureau, coordinating the association's conferences, fundraisers, workshops, plus maintaining a role as the sport's advocate in the state legislative arena. Under her leadership, New Hampshire law was changed to give a registration discount to riders if they were members of a local club, which dramatically increased membership rates. During her tenure as Executive Director, New Hampshire's snowmobile community has had an economic impact of more than half a billion dollars annually, representing three percent of New Hampshire's gross product. Inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame for her contributions in the category of Trail & Program Developer, Gail Hanson has demonstrated a unique ability and commitment to promote the growth of snowmobiling in New Hampshire for more than twenty (20) years.

Larry Shepherd - Volunteer
Minnesota

Larry Shepherd - 2014 Inductee to International Snowmobile Hall of Fame - Eagle River, WI
Larry Shepherd
When it comes to understanding the unique and important role that volunteers play in the sport of snowmobiling, few understand it as well as Larry Shepherd. An active member of the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MnUSA) for 25-plus years, Larry has been a driving force in MnUSA since he became a member. Shepherd began his association with snowmobiling in the early 1970s. At first a club member and enthusiastic rider, he recognized a need for Youth Snowmobile Safety Training and became a certified instructor in 1976. In 2006 he was honored as the "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Snowmobile Instructor of the Year." In 1990, he was appointed to Minnesota's snowmobile task force to aid in the development of trails policies for user groups. He also helped create a non-profit recreational trail users coalition of six non-motorized and four motorized groups to seek out the commonalities they share. In 2006 he was named "Minnesota Snowmobiler of the Year" by MnUSA and was named "2007 Snowmobiler of the Year" by the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. Inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame for his many contributions as a Volunteer, Shepherd has helped better the sport of snowmobiling for Minnesota's young snowmobilers and for its military veterans.

Lyle Shipe - Publisher & Journalist
Michigan

Lyle Shipe - 2014 Inductee to International Snowmobile Hall of Fame - Eagle River, WI
Lyle Shipe
It's unlikely that any snowmobiler in Michigan knows the sport as intimately as Lyle Shipe. As the Editor and Publisher of the Michigan Snowmobiler since the late 1960s, Lyle has seen snowmobiling mature almost from birth to a strong and viable Winter sport. He recognized early on the importance for a "snowmobiler's voice" to help unite the fledgling sport in Michigan. Beginning in 1968, Shipe spent his Winters meeting and getting to know Michigan's snowmobilers. He made certain that the Michigan Snowmobiler covered events and snowmobiling get-togethers in what was then the snow state with more than 400,000 registered sleds. His rapport with Michigan's snowmobiling community came from his ability to include both large and small snowmobile events that helped local communities, snowmobile dealerships and the "Mom & Pop" businesses that depended on snowmobilers. Lyle's enthusiasm and passion for snowmobiling extends beyond just the publishing of a great snowmobile magazine, in that he is truly devoted to making snowmobiling activities as safe and enjoyable as possible. Through his efforts, Lyle has affected the lives of countless snowmobilers. With a snowmobile history that touches six different decades, Lyle Shipe is inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport in the category of Publisher & Journalists.

Eastern Iowa SledHeads - ISHOF Snowmobile Club of the Year 2014
Lone Tree, Iowa

Although not being a traditional "grooming" club, Eastern Iowa SledHeads, through social and civic activism, reflects positively on snowmobiling as a sport and showcases just what dedicated snowmobilers can accomplish as an active and organized civic force for good in Snowbelt communities. "The club's dominant civic activism best represents the traditional ideals and efforts that historically have led to the creation of strong alliances within communities to support the concepts of multi-use trails, fair use and self funding projects to better snowmobiling for more people," explained International Snowmobile Hall of Fame election Chairperson Larry Koch. "Through their activities, the club has created positive recognition of the snowmobile community as a whole." He continued, "They may not groom trails, but they most assuredly groom support for snowmobiling and snowmobilers by their selfless actions and that is why the selection committee chose the Eastern Iowa SledHeads as ISHOF's 2014 International Snowmobile Club of the Year."