Looking back: Ted’s Texaco pumps run dry; Tommy Moe makes history
Tommy Moe, center, reacts after his Olympic downhill gold medal as he is flanked by his runner-ups Kjetil Andre Aamodt from Norway, left, who placed second, and Edward Podivisnky from Canada, right, who placed third in the men’s downhill event during the XVII Winter Olympic Games, Sunday, Feb. 13, 1994, Kvitfjell, Norway. (AP Photo/Rudi Blaha)
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
February 21, 1974
The gas shortage crunch began to take its toll in Whitefish. Stacey Oil Company reported they had no problems so far but they “never know from day to day” if they would have shortages. There was talk that Ted’s Texaco was out of gas. He reported the plant was trying to get him more fuel and felt confident they could. He said he would remain open. The B&R Conoco station operators report they were having no shortage problems because Continental Oil Co., which owns Conoco, had all its refineries in the Northern Hemisphere and they were not affected by the embargo.
40 Years Ago
February 23, 1984
Don Morrison departed Whitefish bound for his new job as a city administrator of Tukwila, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, with a firm belief that he did nearly everything he was expected to do when he was hired in Whitefish. In recounting his tenure, Morrison pointed out several specific accomplishments he achieved while serving as the community’s first city manager. The one he was most proud of was in the area of land use. After struggling 35 years with trying to establish a zoning ordinance, he said, he came into the community and in less than two years helped the city establish one. “That area (land use) would be the biggest success,” Morrison said.
30 Years Ago
February 17, 1994
It took former Whitefish resident Tommy Moe just 1 minute, 45.75 seconds to become a superstar Sunday, but it took him nearly 24 years of hard work and determination to earn his place at the 17th Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. While the casual observer might think Moe came from nowhere to win, those who know him best say Moe has had it in him all along. “It was absolutely fantastic,“ said his mother, JoAnn Persons of Whitefish. Persons said when Moe called her after the win, he said, “Hey, Ma, I won. What a place to take a first place in downhill!”
20 Years Ago
February 19, 2004
The best of North American ski racers, including three hometown up-and-comers, went all out on the home course when Big Mountain’s Toni Matt, Corkscrew and Ursa Major runs turned into the downhill and giant slalom race venues for the Doug Smith Classic, or North American Cup. Whitefish’s Marni Hale, 15, Kate Jordan, 17, and Kyle Taylor, 19, had the potential to go big and it’s the NorAm races like this where the slow climb to the top begins. “We’re going 80 mph basically naked. What could be more exciting than that?” said Kyle Taylor.
10 Years Ago
February 19, 2014
A snowmobile triggered an avalanche in the Canyon Creek drainage near Whitefish Mountain Resort that partially buried four people. All four made it out safely, according to the Flathead Avalanche Center. The slide in the Skook Chutes and Seven Sisters area was about 900 feet across and ran 700 feet downhill. Debris from the avalanche crossed Canyon Creek Road and was six feet deep on the road, the center reported.