Jo Marillac skiing Squaw Valley, CA in the 1950s.
Never heard of Jo Marillac? Not many around here have. He is far and away the most bad-ass dude to have ever graced the slopes of Squaw Valley. Why? Why is he the most badass mo-fo to ever hang his hat in Squaw Valley? Here’s why:
JO MARILLAC:
- One of the best mountaineers in the world in the 1940s & 50s.
- Record setting speed ascents of gnarliest peaks in Chamonix as a teenager.
- Youngest person to receive High Mountain Guide certification in the European Alps.
- Guided downed bomber pilots back to safety in the French Alps.
- War hero in World War II and leader of the French Resistance to the Nazis.
- Captured twice by the Nazis in WWII and escaped twice.
- “After his first capture, the Gestapo imprisioned him in an “impenetrable” fortress, but Marillac got away by scaling a vertical prison wall just before he was to be executed by firing squads” - Mark McLaughlin
- French Congressional Medal of Honor from General Charles de Gaulle himself.
- Credited with convincing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bring the 8th Winter Olympics to Squaw Valley.
Check out the people on the roof of the Far East Building. 1960 Winter Olympics Squaw Valley, USA.
Jo Marillac moved to Squaw Valley after the war in the early 1950s, became the director of the Squaw Valley ski school for 17 years, and got in good with Alex Cushing. Alex recruited Jo to help him win the 1960 Winter Olympics Games for Squaw Valley. This was a great call as Jo’s reputation in Europe was beyond stellar. Everyone in Europe knew of his mountaineering and war successes and he was widely considered a living legend, even as a young man.
Jo knew the layout of many major European ski resorts and knew Squaw inside and out. With all this knowledge he was confidently able to testify to the IOC that Squaw’s terrain and topography was comparable to some of its European counterparts.
“I have come here to tell you we can.” – Jo Marrilac’s response to the IOC protesting Squaw Valley as the site of the 8th Winter Olympic Games.
Hockey at the 1960 squaw valley winter olympics.
Initially, the IOC was apposed to having the Olympics in Squaw Valley. Cushing was a brilliant businessman, but it was Jo who’s “golden word” changed minds in the IOC vote and eventually got the Olympics to California via a 32-30 vote.
Having had Jo live in Squaw Valley makes Squaw look badass by basic association. Squaw is what it is today thanks Jo Marillac. We love it. Thanks Jo.
Jo Marillac was born in France in 1922 and passed away at the age of 79 in Sparks, Nevada.
Fun Fact:
Jo taught French parallel at Squaw Valley to groups for $5 per day, $3 for a half day. Private lessons cost $8.50 per lesson, with $3 added for each additional person.
I wish we still had that Ice Pavilion.
Great post – bring us more!
LEGENDARY!
private lessons go for $130/hr now
Word Miles,
Well said and well researched. I lived in Jo’s apt on Squaw Valley road in 1989, ( JC Killy had stayed there on previous visits with Jo) and had some amazing conversations while drinking an abundance of cheap wine with him. He liked to drink the vino, it helps diabetics lower blood sugar levels without triggering the need for insulin. He was the ‘real deal’ for sure.
Amazing how charlatans like Cushing got the credit for a lot of the Olympic crap when it was actually Marillac who made it happen with the French Olympic delegation.
He also summitted the Aiguille Du Midi at least 35 times.
The only ‘black mark’ on Jo’s history legend has it, was that when the war was ending, he went back to the Gestapo prison and slit the throat of the bastard that had brutally tortured him. Badass for sure.
Thanks for posting some real history of Squaw and some truth.
Respect.
@KTGaper Alex Cushing a “charlatan”? Seems a bet harsh.
le greatest generation. Merci Jo!
Rest in peace. May the light shine upon him.
Miles,
Nice & concise recap on Joe Marillac. Another not insignificant details can be added regarding Joe and the games in Squaw Valley:
After winning the bid, Marillac was totally ignored by Alex Cushing. He wasn’t offered any significant role in the preparation of the game. Incredibly, Marillac wasn’t even offered official credentials or events tickets to the Games. It was a Japanese delegate who recognized Joe from his lobbying with the IOC in Europe that invited him to join the Japanese delegation with full credentials and access to all events of the Games.
My father was the co-pilot on the bomber crew that was assisted by Joe back in 1944, I met Joe twice. Awesome man. If you would like to read the re-print about that crew from a Reader’s Digest article, please drop me a line and I will send to you. 123tlee@gmail.com