Richard Cowell is a man of many stories, some which are almost unlikely to believe. He has led an exciting life described in his book “A Touch of Glory”. This autobiography shares his experiences with Wall Street, a romance with Ava Gardner, living in Paris, France, dinner with Howard Hughes, and travels around the world. His extraordinary journey gave him three quotes to live by in life. “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” – Vince Lombardi. ” It isn’t how you play the game that counts; it’s the score at the end of the game.” – Vince Lombardi. “The end justifies the means.” – Nicolo Machiavelli.
When you first meet Richard, you are greeted by a warm and friendly soul dressed in his water ski flair; a blue suit jacket with patches of history from past water ski tournaments. Many years ago, when you skied in competitions, you were presented with patches to sew onto your clothing, the more patches, the more super human you were in the sport.
Richard “Dick” Cowell is 85 years young, lives in Palm Beach, Florida and continues to have a passion for water skiing. He skis with Chip Debus at Palm Beach Water Sports several times a week. His discipline of choice is tricks since he gave up slalom one year ago due to a knee injury. He has been skiing with Chip for over 15 years and when asked why he enjoys it so much he replies “Chip gives positive reinforcement, is a good boat driver, and helps me put on my skis on those bad days!”
Water skiing has enriched his life and he feels it contributes to his good health and water skiing gives him great pleasure to have met people all over the world. Dick began his on the water journey in 1946. He was in the Bahamas with friend Hunt Hartford and decided to take a water ski lesson from Bruce Parker. Since Parker was busy and could only take one student for the day, a coin toss decided that the winner would ride in the boat with the beautiful driver Evelyn Woolford, and the loser would get the lesson. Dick lost the coin toss and got the lesson, from then on, he was hooked on water skiing.
In his later years, he had to undergo open heart surgery. The doctor told him water skiing saved his life by forming new blood vessels because he had blocked arteries; a phenomenon that a high level cardiovascular workout can sometimes create new pathways of veins. In 1946, water skiing was in its infancy and that year the World Water Ski Union was formed by André Coutou and is now called the International Water Ski and Wakeboard Federation IWWF. In 1949 the first world championships were held at Jaun-Les-Pins on the French Riviera. Dick was lucky to be one of the six to be chosen to represent the United States, and the U.S. had a string of victories until 1991. To add to his list of accomplishments, he has attended every World Championship since its inception and participated in one way or another as competitor, judge, driver, member of the executive board, and President of the Federation.
In 1949 Dick water skied a distance run from Italy to France across the open Mediterranean. His boat driver was Gianni Fustinoni and he took off at 10 a.m on September 1st, 1950, and six hours, fourteen minutes, and 161 miles later, he skied onto the beach at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France to be greeted by a cheering crowd! His run was recognized in the Guinness Book of Records until Bruce Parker and Evelyn Wolford made the 200-mile run from Nassau to Miami.
Dicks dream will be fulfilled when water skiing is part of the Olymp
ics. He has lobbied in the past to get it approved and water skiing qualifies in every category except it uses a motor boat to pull skiers and motors are not permitted in the Olympics.
From Morocco to Canada and Germany to Hong Kong, he comments “What an experience to travel all over the world and see your friends, the heads of national delegations and executive committees. It is an honor to have known them over the years.”
Dick’s last competition was the European Seniors in Geneva, Switzerland in 1969, the same day Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. In 1996 he was the 29th inductee into the International Water Ski Hall of Fame.
What is Dick’s secret for staying young “Never quit” he says.
CORBETT — Ray DeFir, who died Oct. 21, was a Guinness world record holder for waterskiing 1,000 miles nonstop on the Columbia River in 33 hours and 27 minutes. He undertook the marathon ski trip in 1958, and his record still stands.
A funeral Mass officiated by Father John Amsberry was celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker Church.
Mr. DeFir was born June 21, 1930, in El Paso, Texas. He grew up in Portland and Vanport and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1948. After working for Freightliner Corp. in the 1950s, he started his own boat-building and moorage business. He was well known for his classic mahogany DeFir and Rayson Craft boats. Family and friends recall fondly DeFir’s stories about his times on the water, often shared around bonfire during get-togethers.
In the middle of an August night in 1958, the the marathon ski trip started at 12:17 a.m. Friday and ended at 9:44 a.m. Saturday. According to DeFir, the last 250 miles were rough, once fatigue and monotony kicked in. His right foot was tender from the constant trip hammer action of the ski on the water, so he spent most of the final 200 miles standing on his left leg only. He fell asleep twice on his feet, despite the upbeat five tunes blasting from a portable radio around his neck.
While he skied, DeFir ate two quarts of soup, three sandwiches, three pieces of chicken (two dropped in the water) and one orange, and drank a quart of chocolate milk and 12 stubbies of beer.
Seeming to sail over Pine Mountain, Mike Osborne, making the supreme effort to set a new jumping mark at the 1958 Nationals, is stopped by the camera in the most spectacular leap in National's history. For his unbelievable in-air recovery.
NovDec58
Champion in full flight - Joe Cash sails off the jumping ramp at Callaway Gardens to travel 136 feet, farther than any other human has ever done on water skis. Cover: Joe Cash
SepOct58
Picture on the cover this month is Floyd McCreight of the Aston Ski Club, Fort Worth, TX, in the midst of a dramatic jump. The picture was taken by Frank R. Zagarino, past president of the University of Miami Ski Club, who is now a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Carswell Air Force Base.
JulAug58
An uncommonly fine portrait of youth and beauty - Vicki Van Hook, national girls water ski champion, who captured her title at the 1957 National Water Ski Championships at San Diego, CA with a total of 1,300 points. JanFeb58
CORBETT — Ray DeFir, who died Oct. 21, was a Guinness world record holder for waterskiing 1,000 miles nonstop on the Columbia River in 33 hours and 27 minutes. He undertook the marathon ski trip in 1958, and his record still stands. 
Champion in full flight - Joe Cash sails off the jumping ramp at Callaway Gardens to travel 136 feet, farther than any other human has ever done on water skis. Cover: Joe Cash
Picture on the cover this month is Floyd McCreight of the Aston Ski Club, Fort Worth, TX, in the midst of a dramatic jump. The picture was taken by Frank R. Zagarino, past president of the University of Miami Ski Club, who is now a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Carswell Air Force Base.
A bright afternoon and placid water, an outboard boat and water skis, these all spell fun for this trio of happy looking youngsters
An uncommonly fine portrait of youth and beauty - Vicki Van Hook, national girls water ski champion, who captured her title at the 1957 National Water Ski Championships at San Diego, CA with a total of 1,300 points. JanFeb58