Harry Baxter - Ski school director, Jackson Hole executive

Harry West Baxter, an executive at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, died peacefully on January 28, 2025. He was 95.

Born in New York, Baxter grew up skiing in New Hampshire. He served in the Korean War as an army staff sergeant combat engineer and after the war, he taught skiing at the Hannes Schneider ski school in North Conway, New Hampshire. In 1961, Baxter became assistant manager and ski school director at Mt. Whittier, New Hampshire, and then director of the ski school at Sugarloaf, Maine, in 1965. At Sugarloaf, Baxter developed programs for veterans with service-related injuries. He was promoted to general manager in 1968 and launched innovative marketing programs that increased skier visits and attracted major racing competitions to the resort.

Baxter next joined Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in 1974 and served as marketing director and vice president of public relations for more than 20 years. During that time, he helped develop Jackson into an elite ski destination, hosting events such as the Wild West Classic World Cup Series and Powder 8s, and launching the Pole, Pedal, Paddle competition. He also worked with local and national agencies to offer local transportation to the resort and expand air service to the Jackson Hole airport. Baxter retired in 1995 and is a member of the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame (2017) and the Maine Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame (2023).