United States Olympic Ski Jumper. He gained recognition after making five Olympic Teams in the individual large hill ski jump competitions. In the 1952 and 1956 Winter Olympics, he placed 15th and 21st. Besides the Olympics, he placed fifth in the same competition at the 1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and was the U.S. Eastern Ski Jumping Champion in 1939 and 1941. By age 17, he had earned a spot on the 1940 Olympic team, which was to compete in Japan, but the games were canceled due to World War II. The 1944 Olympics were also cancelled. During World War II, as a bombardier in a B-24, he flew 50 missions over Europe, being awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Presidential Unit Citations, and three Purple Hearts before being discharged in 1946 at the rank of captain. He was the 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950 National Ski Jumping Champion. After making the 1948 Olympic Team in Switzerland, a knee injury almost kept him from competing. Although competing, he made his ski run with a cast on his leg. He competed in the next two Olympic Winter Games in 1952 and 1956. He made the 1960 Olympic Team but did not compete due to injuries. Before World War II, he studied at Syracuse University. In 1953, he entered the motel business, Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Inn, and continued that until retirement. As a television commentator for ABC Wide World of Sports, he reported the Winter Olympics in 1964, 1968, 1976, and 1980. After much effort from him and others, the 1980 Winter Olympics were held in his hometown of Lake Placid. He married for a second time as a widower and had three children with his first wife. A full-size bronze statue of him holding his skis was erected in his honor at the Lake Placid Ski Complex.
United States Olympic Ski Jumper. He gained recognition after making five Olympic Teams in the individual large hill ski jump competitions. In the 1952 and 1956 Winter Olympics, he placed 15th and 21st. Besides the Olympics, he placed fifth in the same competition at the 1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and was the U.S. Eastern Ski Jumping Champion in 1939 and 1941. By age 17, he had earned a spot on the 1940 Olympic team, which was to compete in Japan, but the games were canceled due to World War II. The 1944 Olympics were also cancelled. During World War II, as a bombardier in a B-24, he flew 50 missions over Europe, being awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Presidential Unit Citations, and three Purple Hearts before being discharged in 1946 at the rank of captain. He was the 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950 National Ski Jumping Champion. After making the 1948 Olympic Team in Switzerland, a knee injury almost kept him from competing. Although competing, he made his ski run with a cast on his leg. He competed in the next two Olympic Winter Games in 1952 and 1956. He made the 1960 Olympic Team but did not compete due to injuries. Before World War II, he studied at Syracuse University. In 1953, he entered the motel business, Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Inn, and continued that until retirement. As a television commentator for ABC Wide World of Sports, he reported the Winter Olympics in 1964, 1968, 1976, and 1980. After much effort from him and others, the 1980 Winter Olympics were held in his hometown of Lake Placid. He married for a second time as a widower and had three children with his first wife. A full-size bronze statue of him holding his skis was erected in his honor at the Lake Placid Ski Complex.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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