Ralph Walton - Ralph Walton, Crested Butte

Ralph Outlaw Walton, Jr., died April 17, 2011 in LaGrange, Ga.

After earning a degree in electrical engineering at Auburn Universityin 1951, Walton served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and then did classified work in nuclear weapons. He then held management positions at Westinghouse Electric for 15 years, while founding some successful agricultural-products businesses, notably Hamilton Sod.

In 1970 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law Howard “Bo” Callaway, and purchased Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Walton moved to Crested Butte to manage the resort’s growth. He served twice as chairman of Colorado Ski Country USA and helped to pioneer direct-flight airline programs, bringing major-market skiers directly to Gunnison and on to Crested Butte.