Bob Beattie (skiing): Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}

| spouse = {{plainlist|

* {{marriage|[[Kiki Cutter]]|1971|1973|reason=divorced}}

* {{marriage|Cheryl Britton|1980|1987|reason=divorced}}

* Marci Beattie {{small|(Until his death)}}

}}

'''Robert Prime Beattie'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterrecords.com/voter/1140027/robert-beattie|title=Robert Prime Beattie's Colorado Voter Registration|publisher=VoterRecords}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|b|iː|ˈ|æ|t|t|iː}} {{respell|bee|AT|tee}};<ref name="nyt obit"/> January 24, 1933 – April 1, 2018) was an American [[Alpine skiing|skiing]] [[Coach (sport)|coach]], skiing promoter and [[sports commentator|commentator]] for [[ESPN on ABC|ABC Sports]] and [[ESPN]]. He was head coach of the [[United States Ski Team|U.S. Ski Team]] from 1961 to 1969<ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/> and co-founded the [[FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|Alpine Skiing World Cup]] in 1966. His work as a ski-racing commentator for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] included four [[Winter Olympic Games]], from 1976 through 1988.

Beattie was born in [[Manchester, New Hampshire]], on January 24, 1933,<ref name="stowe reporter 2013">{{cite news|last=Morrill|first=Greg|title=America's top alpine ski racing promoter |url=http://www.stowetoday.com/stowe_reporter/on_snow/retroski/article_73e83a6c-81c4-11e2-9754-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date=February 17, 2014|newspaper=The Stowe Reporter|date=February 28, 2013|location=[[Stowe, Vermont]]}}</ref><ref name="TU"/> to Robert Archibald Beattie (1904–1975), a sales manager for a roofing company,<ref name=people-1980>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Frank W.|title=Coaching or Kibitzing on the Olympics, Bob Beattie Is America's Indomitable Snowman|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20075852,00.html|access-date=April 4, 2018|newspaper=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=February 18, 1980}}</ref> and Katherine Simpson (née Prime; 1906–1995), a homemaker.<ref name="CHB">{{cite web|url=http://www.cowhampshireblog.com/2016/11/14/manchester-nh-legendary-skiing-coach-hall-of-famer-bob-beattie-1935-still-living/|title=Manchester NH Athlete, Legendary Skiing Coach and Promoter, Sports Commentator & Hall of Famer: Robert P. "Bob" Beattie (1933–2018)|publisher=Cow Hamsphire Blog|date=November 14, 2016|author=Brown, Janice}}</ref><ref name="nyt obit"/> He had a younger brother, John M.<ref name="CHB"/> He graduated from [[Manchester Central High School]] in 1950.<ref name="CHB"/><ref name="union-leader">{{cite news|last=McCarthy McPhaul|first=Meghan|title=Remembering ski icon Bob Beattie: Manchester native was top athlete, coach, promoter and innovator|newspaper=[[New Hampshire Union Leader]]|date=April 2, 2018|url=http://www.unionleader.com/skiing/Remembering-ski-icon-Bob-Beattie-Manchester-native-was-top-athlete-coach-promoter-and-innovator-04032018|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref> He attended [[Middlebury College]] in [[Vermont]], where he participated in several sports, including football, tennis, cross country, and skiing.<ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/><ref name=people-1980/> After graduating in 1955 with a degree in education, he remained at Middlebury as an assistant coach.<ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/>

In 1956, Beattie was named acting coach of the school's ski team after coach Bobo Sheehan left to coach the alpine skiers on the [[United States at the 1956 Winter Olympics|1956 U.S. Olympic Team]].<ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/> In 1957, Beattie became the head skiing coach for the [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado]] in [[Boulder, Colorado|Boulder]], and during his tenure the team won the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] national titles in 1959 and 1960.<ref name="national hall of fame">{{cite web|title=Robert Beattie|url=http://www.skihall.com/index.php?_a=document&doc_id=11&id=30|publisher=[[National Ski Hall of Fame]]|access-date=February 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/> In 1961, the [[United States Ski and Snowboard Association|U.S. Ski Association]] named Beattie the [[United States Ski Team|U.S. Ski Team]]'s head alpine coach.<ref name="colorado hall of fame">{{cite web |title=Bob Beattie – Athlete – 1986 |url=http://www.skimuseum.net/halloffame/hall_of_fame_details.php?HallOfFameID=57 |work=Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame |publisher=Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum |access-date=February 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223135206/http://www.skimuseum.net/halloffame/hall_of_fame_details.php?HallOfFameID=57 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="aspen hall">{{cite web |title=Bob Beattie |url=http://www.aspenhalloffame.org/bob_beattie.html |publisher=Aspen Hall of Fame |access-date=February 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120072556/http://www.aspenhalloffame.org/bob_beattie.html |archive-date=January 20, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He continued to work concurrently for the university until 1965.<ref name="colorado hall of fame"/><ref name=poanbeco>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zyhQAAAAIBAJ&pg=1014%2C4114736 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Post announces Beattie contract |agency=Associated Press |date=June 30, 1965 |page=12}}</ref><ref name=bolve>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sp0zAAAAIBAJ&pg=1702%2C503053 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Beattie on leave |agency=Associated Press |date=July 2, 1965 |page=17}}</ref>

During his coaching years, Beattie was known as a demanding coach,<ref name=cbsussst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iexNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7196%2C1799621 |newspaper=[[The Free Lance–Star]] |location=Fredericksburg, Virginia |agency=Associated Press |last=Eck |first=Frank H. |title=Coach Beattie says U.S. skiers 2nd to Austrians |date=January 25, 1964 |page=6}}</ref> driving his athletes hard.<ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/><ref name=denver-post-2012/><ref name=people-1980/> At the [[Alpine skiing at the 1964 Winter Olympics|1964 Winter Olympics]] in [[Austria]], the Beattie-coached U.S. team won two medals, both in the [[Alpine skiing at the 1964 Winter Olympics – Men's slalom|men's slalom]]: a silver earned by [[Billy Kidd]] and a bronze by [[Jimmie Heuga]].<ref name=denver-post-2012>{{cite news|last=Meyer|first=John|title=Pioneer Bob Beattie set the stage for U.S. ski racers|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20311898/pioneer-bob-beattie-set-stage-u-s-ski#|access-date=February 17, 2014|newspaper=[[The Denver Post]]|date=April 3, 2012}}</ref> They were the country's first-ever [[List of Olympic medalists in alpine skiing|Olympic medals in men's skiing]].<ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/><ref name=denver-post-2012/> During the [[Alpine skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics|1968 Winter Olympics]] in [[France]], the U.S. Ski Team won no medals, and Beattie was criticized for his tough coaching style.<ref name=people-1980/><ref name=bdcexdm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gztWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5453%2C71322 |newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Beattie ducks controversy; explains dropping McCoy |date=February 1, 1968 |page=13 }}</ref><ref name=tbemch>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p1BEAc165jUC&pg=PA77 |journal=Skiing |last=Jerome |first=John |title=The Beattie Machine |date=November 1968 |page=77 }}</ref> He stepped down as the U.S. Ski Team's coach in April 1969.<ref name=people-1980/><ref name=btqup>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sP5XAAAAIBAJ&pg=4322%2C850414 |newspaper=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]] |location=Bend, Oregon |agency=UPI |title=Beattie to quit on April 1 as U.S. ski coach |date=December 3, 1968 |page=6 }}</ref><ref name=qsbmc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2udHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4238%2C4677249

In 1966, Beattie co-founded the [[FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|World Cup]] for [[alpine skiing]].<ref name=denver-post-2012/> After stepping down as U.S. team coach in&nbsp;1969,<ref name=resskipo>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vgpWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5707%2C835775 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Beattie resigns ski position |date=December 3, 1968 |page=2B}}</ref> he founded the [[World Pro Ski Tour]] in 1970 and worked in promoting it,<ref name=wpseeo>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NCOK1FxOE0YC&pg=RA1-PA61 |journal=Skiing |title=World Pro Skiing 1980–81 |agency=supplement |date=October 1980 |page=61}}</ref> and became a [[NASTAR]] commissioner in&nbsp;1970.<ref name=denver-post-2012/> [[ABC Sports]] hired him as a ski-racing commentator, where he was frequently paired with [[Frank Gifford]], a former [[National Football League|NFL]] [[running back]]. Beattie's television work included alpine commentary during ABC's coverage of four [[Winter Olympics]] in [[Alpine skiing at the 1976 Winter Olympics|1976]], [[Alpine skiing at the 1980 Winter Olympics|1980]], [[Alpine skiing at the 1984 Winter Olympics|1984]],<ref name="stowe reporter 2013"/> and [[Alpine skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics|1988]],<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC has new technology for Winter Olympics|author=The Washington Post|author-link=The Washington Post|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DOhVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5555%2C2666509|access-date=February 17, 2014|newspaper=[[The Register-Guard]]|location=[[Eugene, Oregon]]|date=February 13, 1988|at=TV Week section, p. 3}}</ref> and also covered [[Volleyball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|volleyball]] at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]].<ref name=paley-center-1984>{{cite web|title=Games of the XXIII Olympiad, The {1984 Los Angeles Olympics} {1984/08/02}, Part 1: Boxing (Men), Volleyball (Women) (TV)|url=http://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=news&p=25&item=T86:1363|publisher=[[Paley Center for Media]] |access-date=February 18, 2014}}</ref> He&nbsp;later worked as ABC's winter sports correspondent, which also involved non-alpine sports,<ref name=la-times-1989>{{cite news|last=Nidetz|first=Steve|title=The Soviets Help Fuel A Most Chilling Adventure|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-12-08/sports/8903160540_1_south-pole-fuel-resupply|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 8, 1989}}</ref> and occasionally worked as an announcer for non-winter sports on ABC's ''[[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]'' program.<ref name="DPO">{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/04/02/bob-beattie-dies-co-founded-world-cup-skiing/|title=Bob Beattie, the patriarch of American skiing, dies at 85|newspaper=The Denver Post|access-date=April 2, 2018|date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

Beattie continued to manage the World Pro Ski Tour until 1982,<ref name=denver-post-2012/> and started hosting [[ESPN]] skiing programs in 1985.<ref name="DPO"/>

He authored or co-authored three books,<ref name="colorado hall of fame"/> including ''My Ten Secrets of Skiing'' (Viking Press, NY; 1968)<ref>{{cite book|title=My Ten Secrets of Skiing|publisher=[[WorldCat]]|oclc=000470298}}</ref> and ''Bob Beattie's Learn to Ski'' (Bantam Books, 1967).<ref>{{cite book|title=Bob Beattie's Learn to Ski|publisher=[[WorldCat]]|oclc=900469}}</ref>

He also played the announcer for the arm wrestling championship in the 1987 movie ''[[Over the Top (1987 film)|Over the Top]]''.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Beattie was given the AT&T Skiing Award in 1983.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lochner|first=Bob|title=Skiing: Dave McCoy Fits Well With This Elite Group|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1992-03-12/sports/sp-5041_1_elite-group|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 12, 1992}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[National Ski Hall of Fame]] in 1984.<ref name="national hall of fame"/> He was inducted into the [[Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame]] in 1986.<ref name="colorado hall of fame"/> He was the 1997 recipient of the [[International Ski Federation]]'s Journalist Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ski Writer John Meyer Honored at Beaver Creek|url=http://usskiteam.com/news/ski-writer-john-meyer-honored-beaver-creek|publisher=[[United States Ski and Snowboard Association]]|access-date=February 18, 2014}}</ref>

Beattie had two children, Zeno and Susan, from his first marriage to Ann Dwinnell.<ref name="TU">{{cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/April/02/Founder-Of-US-Ski-Team-Bob-Beattie-Passes-Away|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403013509/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/April/02/Founder-Of-US-Ski-Team-Bob-Beattie-Passes-Away|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 3, 2018|title=Founder Of U.S. Ski Team, Bob Beattie, Passes Away|date=2 April 2018|publisher=Team USA}}</ref><ref name="nyt obit"/> His second marriage was to Olympic skier [[Kiki Cutter]]<ref name=wedeng71>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h3YzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6305%2C2082095 |newspaper=The Bulletin |location=Bend, Oregon |title=Beattie-Cutter |agency=Weddings and engagements |date=September 4, 1971 |page=3}}</ref><ref name=bkskalvijn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rgg0AAAAIBAJ&pg=6912%2C5793866 |newspaper=The Bulletin |location=Bend, Oregon |last=Anstine |first=Dennis |title=Beatties keep skiing alive in June |date=June 28, 1972 |page=10 }}</ref> and lasted from 1971 to 1973.<ref name=people-1980/> He married a third time in 1980, to Cheryl Britton, a manager of a local secondhand clothing store,<ref name=people-1980/> and that marriage lasted until 1987.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} He was married to Marci Rose Beattie (née Cohen)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beenverified.com/lp/98101d/3/search-results#.|title=Marci Rose Beattie|publisher=BeenVerified}}</ref> until his death in 2018.<ref name="nyt obit"/>

Beattie died on April 1, 2018, in [[Fruita, Colorado]], from a long illness at the age of 85.<ref name="BGO">{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2018/04/02/bob-beattie-pioneer-alpine-skiing-world-cup-circuit-dies/R2fUsUavrj9GsMuEcQIBWI/story.html|title=Bob Beattie, pioneer of Alpine skiing's World Cup circuit, dies at 85|last=Graham|first=Pat|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|agency=Associated Press|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref><ref name="TU"/><ref name="nyt obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/obituaries/bob-beattie-85-olympic-ski-coach-and-abc-sports-analyst-dies.html|title=Bob Beattie, 85, Olympic Ski Coach and ABC Sports Analyst, Dies|newspaper=The New York Times|author=Sandomir, Richard|date=April 3, 2018}}</ref>

==External links==

*{{Commons category-inline|Bob Beattie (skiing)}}

[[Category:1933 births]]

[[Category:2018 deaths]]

[[Category:Skiing announcers]]

[[Category:American alpine skiing coaches]]

[[Category:Manchester Central High School alumni]]

[[Category:University of Colorado Boulder people]]