Jerry Dixon, American West Center: an interview by John Worsencroft, 6 February 2009

Transcript (28 pages) of interview by John Worsencroft with Jerry S. Dixon, on February 6, 2009

Dixon (b. 1948) was born in Washington, DC but his parents soon moved back to Salt Lake City, Utah where his family has lived for seven generations. He skied for the Alta ski team and has skied fifty six consecutive years there. He attended Whitman College and then transferred back to the University of Utah. He skied at both schools, then skied for the University of Grenoble in France. He has degrees in Philosophy and Biology, with minors in French, English, and Humanities. He did graduate school at Idaho State University. He's been a smoke jumper, river ranger, Chief of Rescue, Fire Management Officer, and a school teacher in Alaska. He talks about the poor state of education in Alaska. He has skied, traversed mountains, had first ascents, and run rivers all across the west, Canada, and Alaska. Many of his ""firsts"" have not been repeated. He's the vice president of the Seward Iditarod Trailblazers and fought for the Alaskan Lands Act. He's one of the few people who has ever survived a double malfunction with his parachute. He calls Seward Alaska home, and lives with his wife and two sons. He and his wife started taking their kids outdoors when they were really young because he thinks it's important for their development. ""The greatest gift a parent can give a child is that child can grow up and live the dreams of their youth and this I've done."" Interview is part of the Outdoor Recreation Oral History Project. Interviewer: John Worsencroft