Art Devlin (ski jumper)
Encyclopedia
Arthur "Art" Donovan Devlin (September 7, 1922 – April 22, 2004) was an American
ski jumper who competed during the 1950s. A native of Lake Placid, New York
, he finished fifth in the individual large hill at the 1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
which were held in Lake Placid. Devlin also made five Olympics teams, competing in the 1952
and 1956 Winter Olympics
, where he finished 15th and 21st in the individual large hills, respectively.
Prior to the 1950s, Devlin also flew fifty combat missions over Europe
during World War II
as a B-24 pilot
, earning three Purple Heart
s and numerous other military honors.
While in ski jumping
, Devlin went into the hotel
business in 1953, opening Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Inn, a hotel he would run until he retired and passed it onto his son, Art, Jr., in 1992. He also was a color commentator
for ABC Sports during the 1964
, 1968
, 1976
and 1980 Winter Olympics
, becoming lifelong friends with sportscaster Chris Schenkel
.
Devlin, with fellow Lake Placidians J. Bernard Fell, Ronald MacKenzie, Jack Shea
and Vern Lamb, also led the effort to bring the 1980 Winter Olympics
to Lake Placid, lobbying across Europe
to present their case to the International Olympic Committee
.
Devlin married and had three children. His first wife died in 1989 and he remarried several years later. He died of brain cancer in 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ski jumper who competed during the 1950s. A native of Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, he finished fifth in the individual large hill at the 1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1950 took place during February 1–6, 1950 in Lake Placid, New York, USA and Rumford, Maine, USA. This was Lake Placid's second time hosting the championships after having done so at the 1932 Winter Olympics. It also marked the first time after World War II the...
which were held in Lake Placid. Devlin also made five Olympics teams, competing in the 1952
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
and 1956 Winter Olympics
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
, where he finished 15th and 21st in the individual large hills, respectively.
Prior to the 1950s, Devlin also flew fifty combat missions over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a B-24 pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, earning three Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
s and numerous other military honors.
While in ski jumping
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
, Devlin went into the hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
business in 1953, opening Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Inn, a hotel he would run until he retired and passed it onto his son, Art, Jr., in 1992. He also was a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for ABC Sports during the 1964
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
, 1968
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
, 1976
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
and 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
, becoming lifelong friends with sportscaster Chris Schenkel
Chris Schenkel
Christopher Eugene "Chris" Schenkel was an American sportscaster. Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio, becoming known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice.-Early life and career:Schenkel began his broadcasting career at radio...
.
Devlin, with fellow Lake Placidians J. Bernard Fell, Ronald MacKenzie, Jack Shea
Jack Shea
John Amos Shea , better known as Jack Shea or The Chief, was an American double-Gold medalist in speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics. He was the first American to win two Gold medals at one Winter Olympics edition, and was the patriarch of the first family with three generations of Winter...
and Vern Lamb, also led the effort to bring the 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
to Lake Placid, lobbying across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to present their case to the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
.
Devlin married and had three children. His first wife died in 1989 and he remarried several years later. He died of brain cancer in 2004.