Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

2015 Water Ski Hall of Fame Award of Distinction Recipients Announced
  • USA - English


News provided by

USA Water Ski Foundation

Dec 18, 2014, 14:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

2015 Water Ski Hall of Fame Award of Distinction Recipients: Hal Hamilton, Frank Harrison, Dr. Michael Morgan, Chet Raley and Gary Warren
2015 Water Ski Hall of Fame Award of Distinction Recipients: Hal Hamilton, Frank Harrison, Dr. Michael Morgan, Chet Raley and Gary Warren

Polk City, Fla. (PRWEB) December 18, 2014 -- The USA Water Ski Foundation Hall of Fame Selection Committee is proud to announce the 2015 Water Ski Hall of Fame Award of Distinction recipients.

Hal Hamilton, Frank Harrison, Dr. Michael Morgan, Chet Raley and Gary Warren have made extraordinary contributions to our sport and will be honored at the Water Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies on April 18th at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, FL along with Hall of Fame Inductees Bill Bowness, Kim Laskoff, Jennifer Leachman LaPoint and Jeff Rodgers.

Hal Hamilton

Hall Hamilton has dedicated his life to the sport of water skiing both on and off the water. An avid tournament skier and Cypress Gardens show skier, Hal was also a Correct Craft dealer and bought Robert’s Sport Goods, selling boats, water skis and sports equipment. With his strong passion for the sport, Hal was determined to find ways to promote water skiing. One of the pioneers of the early pro events, Hal founded the Iron Man Tournament in 1976. The tournament proved to be a great concept that brought high spectator attendance, publicity and media attention to the sport. The Iron Man was a highlight event on the water ski calendar and ran annually until the Pro Tour started in the 1980s. Hal has continued to be involved in the sport on many levels and won the 2008 U.S. Nationals Overall in the Men 7 division.

Frank Harrison

Frank devoted more than a quarter of a century of his life to the administration of the sport of water skiing. In 1972, Harrison founded Wet Set Village, one of the first residential water ski communities in the country.

With a passion for the sport, Frank started his administrative career as a Western Regional Councilman, moved up to EVP and then Director for the region. Frank served as Treasurer of the AWSA in the late 80s and then as Chairman of the Board. Frank continued his service on the International Activities Committee as both a member and as Chairman for more than 25 years, during which time he was the team manager for many U.S. Elite Team victories in multiple Pan Am and World Championships as well as at the Pan Am Games. Frank was the U.S. representative from the Pan Am Confederation to the IWWF Congress for many years and also a member of the IWWF HOF Selection Committee.

Michael Morgan

Dr. Michael Morgan is well known throughout the water ski world as much for his water ski talents as for his water ski family. Mike had a sterling career on the water winning 43 U.S. National Championship titles, setting nine U.S. records, and was a member of three U.S. World Championship Teams. Morgan began skiing in 1972, won his first Nationals in 1975 and joined the Pro Tour in 1980. Mike was a four time Pro Tour Champion and a three time U.S. Open Champion. In 1987, Mike retired from professional water skiing to focus on medical school and went on to become a successful doctor. Mike continues to compete and has won 3 Big Dawg Championships and a 35+ World Championship title. Water ski greatness runs in the Morgan family. Mike’s father Dr. J.D. Morgan was given the Award of Distinction in 1993 for his outstanding career and service to the sport; and the family legacy continues with Mike’s daughters Lauren and Jenna. Mike is also involved in promoting the sport; he co-founded the Soaked pro tournament and founded Girls that Fly.

Chet Raley

Chet Raley has long been one of water skiing’s most sought-after coaches. His devotion to the athletes he coaches and attention to detail in his methods drive his ability to produce the champions of tomorrow. While he is well known for his coaching abilities, Chet is also an excellent skier himself and was an innovator in early wakeboarding techniques. Chet learned to water ski at a very young age, trying multiple disciplines on the water and has competed in local, regional and National tournaments over the years. His more recent accomplishments as a world champion and Big Dawg competitor have helped him to become an even better coach. Chet’s wakeboard coaching brought him worldwide notoriety. He is credited for one of the most groundbreaking tricks in wakeboarding - the “Raley” which carries his name. This evolved while Chet coached Hall Of Fame wakeboarder Darin Shapiro. The Raley is one of the core skills on both cable and boat teaching a rider how to use the tension of the rope and the speed one generates to control oneself in the air. A Raley is the basis of most technical maneuvers. Chet Raley operates the Palm Beach Training Center in Boca Raton and has earned guru-like status throughout his 20+ years of coaching in both water skiing and wakeboarding.

Gary Warren

Gary Warren became a professional show skier at age 16 doing doubles and barefoot exhibitions throughout the western states. He performed show acts and barefoot exhibitions at the 1963 Nationals and 1961 World Water Ski Championships in Long Beach. This led to Gary being hired as a show ski performer at Cypress Gardens in 1963. It was at Cypress Gardens that Gary further perfected his skills in all events including barefooting, show skiing, jumping and kite flying. Following his service in the army in Vietnam, Gary was hired to do the ski shows at Marine World in California. In addition to the many shows he directed, Gary developed a concept for staging a professional water ski tournament at Marine World that in 1975 became a reality. Filling the 4000 seat stadium, it eventually became the must see event of the year in Northern California. Hosting competitors from all over the world, the media coverage brought much notoriety to the sport with coverage on major television networks. During Gary’s 13 years at Marine World, he also became one of the pioneers in using the Delta Wing Kite and designed one of the first "super jump ramps.” Gary produced the largest grossing events the park had ever seen. Following his time at Marine World, Gary has continued to be involved in promoting the sport through various events, media and marketing around the country.

####

About the Award of Distinction

The Water Ski Hall of Fame Award of Distinction was created to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to our sport. They may include tournament skiers, innovators, industry leaders, officials, and others responsible for landmark achievements in the development of water skiing as well as those whose long periods of dedicated and generous service deserve recognition. To see a list of past recipients, eligibility requirements, nomination forms and more information, visit the official Web site of the USA Water Ski Foundation at http://www.usawaterskifoundation.org

Tracy Mattes, USA Water Ski Foundation, http://www.waterskihalloffame.com, +1 863-324-2472, [email protected]

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.