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Paralympic Ski Coach Receives Dakota Wesleyan Alumni Award

Jon Kreamelmeyer’s work as a coach for Paralympic skiers earned him an induction into the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame earlier this year in Sochi, Russia. His involvement with the U.S. Disabled Ski Team began as a guide for visually impaired athlete Michele Drolet who won a bronze medal at the 1994 Paralympics in Lillehammer, Norway. He became an assistant coach for the team in 1995 and was hired as head coach in 1999.

At the 2000 World Championships, the team came home with a USA-record eight medals.  At Soldier Hollow in 2002, U.S. skiers earned five Paralympic medals, including the first relay medal for U.S. athletes.  The team earned three more podiums in Torino in 2006.  Kreamelmeyer shifted positions in 2009 to cross-country development coach in order to help produce future athletes for the sport.  He retired from the U.S. Ski Team in 2011 but continues to serve as a technical classifier for the International Paralympic Committee.

Kreamelmeyer grew up in Colorado in the 1950s and attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell. After graduation, he returned to Colorado as an English teacher and high school ski coach

On Thursday evening, Kreamelmeyer receives this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award representing the College of Leadership and Public Service from Dakota Wesleyan during the annual Legacy Banquet on campus. He delivers the Opperman Lecture on “Skiing, Service and Success: Lessons from the Slope” in the morning.

Kreamelmeyer joined Dakota Midday and discussed his experience coaching Paralympic athletes.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.