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Bill Johnson
Our Fastest Friend
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Letter from Hal Burbank
Greetings
dear friends at Cascade. I am Hal Burbank, a 1970s-vintage club
member and racer, to whom your inspirational and perhaps unequaled
community spirit, grace, warmth, love and support was shown by so
many of you when, as a mere boy of 18 years, I trekked for the first
time from my home Maine mountains to yours, not knowing what fate I
would meet. Needless to say, I have never forgotten your kindness,
and at age 44, I cherish my memories of you.
I write today to ask your
support for one of Oregon's famous skiing sons, Billy Johnson. When
I was with you, I met and worked at Mt. Hood Meadows with Billy when
he was just 16. Like so many on the Mountain then, I saw Billy's
racing promise and hoped he would "succeed". Of course,
that turned out to be an understatedthought. He amazed us by
becoming the first American to win the Olympicdownhill and the only
American ever to win 4 World Cup downhills.
I assume
many of you followed Billy's more recent attempts make the 2002 US
Team, and race in the 2002 Salt Lake Games. Bill's near fatal crash
at Big Mountain, MT shocked me and the world. Even more disturbing
to me was learning, via crash publicity, of other tragedies in
Billy's post-Olympics life - his loss of a son, his restlessness and
his near zero financial net worth. As someone who knew Billy not as
an Olympic champion, but as a young man, much like many other
teenagers I met on the Mountain in the 1970s, I was moved by his
plight. Billy is part of my Mt. Hood experience and I cannot turn
away from him. Though I did not know her, I emailed Bill's Mom, DB
Johnson, after the accident, and offered free legal and any other
services I might give Bill and his family, especially his two young
sons (I am a lawyer today). Currently I represent Bill before the US
social security administration in hopes of gaining him disability
and related federal benefits. No judgment will be forthcoming for
many months yet.
My longtime Cascade
sidekick, current MHRT coach Phil Bride, intends to contact you
about donating to Bill's Gresham, OR rehab fund, and I write today
to make the same request. See more on the donation fund at Billy's
website, currently maintained by DB and family at
www.billjohnson1984gold.com. Billy just went to a Bakersfield, CA
brain trauma rehab for months of testing and work. His funds are low
and his family cannot support him indefinitely. One of my brain
trauma experts here, Dr. John Stanwood (also from OR, ironically)
says it costs not less than $500,000 to rehab these injuries. Much
will be covered by current insurance, but significant costs will not
be covered. I hope Cascade will consider contacting DB at ProSportNW@aol.com,
or 503-666-2528, or me, at 860-693-2687 (home) or 203-579-6877
(work, Office of CT Attorney General) to discuss Bill's needs and a
possible donation.
I would also
appreciate your passing this message on to Duane Bridge. I hope
Duane recalls me from 1975, when he so generously arranged for me to
live in the clubhouse for awhile. Phil Bride hopes to be in touch
with Duane soon as well.
In any event, I am glad to see from
its website that Cascade is thriving. It is part of life that great
tragedy often inspires great good. For me, in this case, that
includes the opportunity to reconnect with Cascade. I sincerely hope
that Cascade continues to prosper, and I would very much look
forward to working with anyone there who wants to help Billy and his
family. Some of Bill's old US Team teammates and coaches, including
Andy Luhn and Erik Steinberg, and I are attempting to start a
foundation to help Bill and other injured skiers, but that will take
much time. Bill's family could use everyone's help sooner rather
than later as the bills mount up. Frankly, the US Team and USOC have
not come forward at all, to date, and we amateurs are on our own, as
is Billy.
Thank you for your attention. I hope
to hear from you soon.
Very truly yours,
Harold H. Burbank, II, Esq.
84 N. Mountain Rd.
Canton, CT 06019