Tom “Corky” Denisson -- influenced by his dad Pete Denisson -- began skiing almost before he was able to walk. He began ski jumping at Norski Hill, a ski area owned by the Denisson family.

Corky will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on November 7, 2003 ... you will be able to read his complete bio here starting on Saturday, November 8.

Please come back and read about this outstanding ski jumper from St Paul. He became a member of the St. Paul Junior Ski Club in October of 1951, and has maintained his membership in the club for more than half a century.

He began competing at an early age and gained his first medal at the age of seven in competitions held at Mounds Park in St. Paul.

His competitive career has carried him to many parts of the world, but he excelled in St. Paul. His first jump from the former 60 meter Battle Creek slide came at the age of 13.

He was named the Minneapolis Parks Board Champion for three years running from 1960 to 1 962.

He went on from there to capture the St. Paul Memorial Trophy, as the best St. Paul skier in the annual competitions, on seven occasions.

In 1983 Corky won the National Veterans Class Championship from the 90 meter Westby, Wisconsin slide.

He earned the Masters Class National Championship crown in competitions at Madison, Wisconsin in 1997

In competitions in Odnesbakken, Norway, Corky won the bronze medal in the International Masters Championship in 1991.

In the first year of competition on the 50 meter hill at Westby, Corky established a hill record of 59 meters.

His career in the sport has taken him to four separate ski flying competitions from the Giant Copper Peak Hill near Ironwood, Michigan.

Corky readily adapted the somewhat aberrant and off beat characteristics while walking in the footsteps of his father Pete.

He was always ready to pit his competitive skills in any number of sports, from golf, to softball, to gymnastics, to cards, to almost any venturesome activity, against any who would accept the challenge.

He is probably the only person who has ever successfully skied from the top of the 47 meter Harrington Hill and had a standing ride -- on one ski. He has hit golf balls from the top of the 90 meter slide at Westby.

On another occasion Pete, Corky, his brother Tim, and Corky’s son Kip, were entered and skied in competition in a tournament at Carver’s Lake.

Like his father before him, Corky became a brick layer and a master of masonry. As he maintained his membership in the St. Paul Ski Club he contributed numerous hours working at various club projects.

But through the years, it has been his skill as a ski jumper that has been most recognizable. In the past Corky was been cited as the top skier in the Central Division of the USSA.

As a result of his competitive skills, Corky has accumulated 138 trophies, plagues and medals to commemorate an outstanding career in the ski jumping sport.

As a member of and representing the St. Paul Ski Club, over an extensive period of time, Corky Denisson maintained a high standard of ski jumping excellence.

It is fitting that he be honored as an inductee into the St. Paul Ski Club Hall of Fame.