Charles Minot Dole

Charles Minot "Minnie" Dole (born Tyngsboro, Massachusetts April 18, 1899 died Greenwich, Connecticut–1976) was the founder of the National Ski Patrol. He is no relation to Bob Dole.

Biography

Dole learned how to ski in the Boy Scouts of America and attended Phillips Academy. Though he enlisted in the US Army during World War I, the war finished before he completed his basic training. Following the War he graduated from Yale University in 1923.^[1]

Minnie Dole formed the National Ski Patrol in 1938 and was director of the organization until 1950.

During World War II, Dole convinced the War Department to form the 10th Mountain Division, a mountaineering unit.

Dole is honored across the ski industry with plaques and other honors. A trail was dedicated in his honor at Berkshire East Ski Area. Dole was inducted into the United States National Ski Hall of Fame in 1958.

Grave marker at St. John’s in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, Paul Smiths, New York

Second grave marker

Notes

1. http://newenglandskihistory.com/biographies/doleminnie.php

References

• Dole, Charles Minot Dole Adventures in Skiing F Watts (1965)

External links

• Charles M. Dole - U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame
• Charles Minnie Dole - Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame
• Alpenglow Ski Mountaineering History Project - Gretchen R. Besser - "The National Ski Patrol"