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August 6, 1998
Selection
Committee
Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame
What a special privilege
it is for me to be asked to write an opening introduction to this book
honoring the efforts of Sue Susic Ervin.
Back in 1984, I was sent to cover what would be the
first of three straight Winter Olympics. Yes, the
focus was on a pair of young speed skaters, Dan Jansen and Bonnie Blair.
But while in Sarajevo, I found myself at Zetra Arena, watching the figure
skating competition. Scott Hamilton was leading the charge for the men
with a gold medal. Kitty and Peter Carruthers took silver in the
pairs.
I could be found watching
practice up in the bleachers, usually by myself, until someone would
notice and come over and strike up conversation. That conversation would
eventually lead to where I was from and upon being informed it was
Milwaukee, coaches and officials from around the world would immediately
ask if I knew Sue Susic Ervin. Of course I knew
Sue, she was a driving force in the Greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin Figure
Skating Clubs. A choreographer for Red, White and Blades and one of the
foremost and popular figure skating coaches in the Midwest.
So here
I was an eight hour flight removed from Wisconsin, and the elite talent of
the world were sharing stories about a coach right in my backyard that I
should have known better. Thankfully, that changed upon my return. Since
that time I have followed Sue and her skaters as they reached out and
accomplished goal after goal.
The world knows about Sue, her
students know about Sue, and now it’s time that we let everyone know about
her enormous talent and hours of endless work in leading our young skaters
to the top of their abilities. I did not need to read this book of her
accomplishments to know that Sue Susic Ervin was a Hall of Famer, but it
was fun to relive the past 18 years and remember the stories and the
competitions.
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