Pioneer & Innovator
Billy Saunders and Snow King grew up together. At a very early age, Billy, with his brother Bobby and friends, skied every bare slope in Jackson Hole, their favorites being Elk Refuge Hill and Cache Creek. Enthusiastic to grow the town hill, he helped Neil Rafferty build Snow King’s rope tow and helped build the Snow King Ski Shelter. He brought these skills to Utah State where As a member of their ski team, he helped install a rope tow for their practice runs. In 1951, he built and opened The Ski Shop at the base of Snow King and helped supply the town and tourists with all of their equipment needs. He was also the first person to schuss the King top to bottom. Scouting with Barry Corbet, Willy Schaffer, and Paul McCollister for the location of the next great ski destination, Billy skied with Corbet in what was probably the first run of the to-be Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. As a high school student, Billy went before the Teton County school board to request that they add skiing as a school sport, and with their financial support, he started the High School Ski Team. He served as president of the Jackson Hole Alpine Club (JHAC), and during his tenure, he helped form the Little Waxers ski team, which served 83 children with 11 volunteer coaches in its first year. One of his greatest honors as a coach was being selected to coach the Western States Ski Meet in Sun Valley, ID. With the Jackson Intermountain Ski Team, he coached Karen Budge and Dallas Dunlap, among many other valley skiers.
