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Arthur Leonard Obituary
Arthur Chelton (Shelly) Leonard
March 11, 1923 -
April 5, 2011
Chelton Leonard, after battling numerous health issues, passed away peacefully at his home in Carson City surrounded by his family. He was born in Price, Utah, but was a lifelong resident of Reno. He graduated from Reno High School in 1941, lettering in football and skiing and was captain of the Ski Team. Attending the University of Nevada in 1941 -1942, he was on the freshman football team and a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. In 1943 he was asked to be the "skiing stunt double" for Lou Costello in the Abbot and Costello movie "Hit the Ice". With the outbreak of WWII, in 1943 Chelton volunteered for training with the 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army. Because of his background, as a corporal he was asked to be a ski instructor at Camp Hale, Colorado. In 1946 he separated from the Army as a 2nd Lt.
The next year was spent at the University of Oregon where he was proud to be called a "Duck". From 1946 to 1947 he worked at Sun Valley, Idaho in the Ski Race Training Department and various other jobs around the resort. In 1948 he was back at the University of Nevada and a member of the Ski Team until his graduation in 1951. The next eight years were spent as the University Of Nevada Ski Coach. During this time he organized the first sanctioned NCAA Intercollegiate Ski Championships held at Sky Tavern, originated the "All American Ski Team", was awarded "Ski Coach of the Year" honors and lead Nevada to two, top five finishes in the NCAA Ski Championships. In 1958, Shelly took the position of Assistant Sports Technical Director for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. He was involved in the Competition Jury, was the Chief Gatekeeper for Alpine events and appointed "Advisor to Nevada Governor Grant Sawyer for the Winter Olympics". After the Olympics, he was off to Denver, Colorado as the Executive Director of the National Ski Association of America and continued working with the U.S. Olympic Committee and as Chairman of the International Ski Competition Committee. 1962 brought Shelly back to Reno for two more years as Nevada's Ski Coach. In 1964, Chelton accepted the position as Convention Director for John Ascuaga's Nugget until his recall to active duty military in 1967. The next six years were spent as the Deputy State Director for Selective Service in Carson City. Shelly eventually retired from the Army as a Colonel.
The next fifteen years were filled living his passion, as a Ski Instructor and Ski School Director at Ski Incline/Diamond Peak. The off seasons found him selling real estate around Incline Village and Carson City. His love of skiing, mountains and the Army, had Chelton traveling the world with the 10th Mountain Division Association and the International Federation of Mountain Soldiers. He became lifelong friends with many of his former adversaries, including a German General. In 1992 Shelly was inducted into the University of Nevada Athletic Hall of Fame for Skiing and as Coach of the Ski Team. He also was a high school football referee in northern Nevada and Colorado for 24 years. With his son in Scouts, he held positions on the Nevada Area Council Executive Committee, Scoutmaster and Explorer Post Advisor.
Chelton is survived by his sister Jennie "Louise" McGill of Gambrills MD, son Peter (Jan) Leonard of Carson City, grandchildren Shari (Ed) Peterman of Carson City, Ben (Shasta) Leonard of Las Vegas, Laura (Sean) Leonard of Carson City, great-grandchildren Brennan, Hawley and Emalia Peterman, nephews Allan McGill of Edmond OK, David (Sally) McGill of Elliott City MD, Mike Leonard of Lexington KY, Louie Leonard of Carson City, nieces Kathy (Gary) Dawson of Reno, Sue (Edgar) Villarreal of Reno, and numerous great nephews and great nieces.
A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, April 12th, 4:00 p.m. at Hilltop Community Church, 3588 Romans Road, Carson City, located across Hwy. 395 from Target and Home Depot.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Western Skisport Museum, 19865 Boreal Ridge Road, Soda Springs, CA 95728.
March 11, 1923 -
April 5, 2011
Chelton Leonard, after battling numerous health issues, passed away peacefully at his home in Carson City surrounded by his family. He was born in Price, Utah, but was a lifelong resident of Reno. He graduated from Reno High School in 1941, lettering in football and skiing and was captain of the Ski Team. Attending the University of Nevada in 1941 -1942, he was on the freshman football team and a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. In 1943 he was asked to be the "skiing stunt double" for Lou Costello in the Abbot and Costello movie "Hit the Ice". With the outbreak of WWII, in 1943 Chelton volunteered for training with the 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army. Because of his background, as a corporal he was asked to be a ski instructor at Camp Hale, Colorado. In 1946 he separated from the Army as a 2nd Lt.
The next year was spent at the University of Oregon where he was proud to be called a "Duck". From 1946 to 1947 he worked at Sun Valley, Idaho in the Ski Race Training Department and various other jobs around the resort. In 1948 he was back at the University of Nevada and a member of the Ski Team until his graduation in 1951. The next eight years were spent as the University Of Nevada Ski Coach. During this time he organized the first sanctioned NCAA Intercollegiate Ski Championships held at Sky Tavern, originated the "All American Ski Team", was awarded "Ski Coach of the Year" honors and lead Nevada to two, top five finishes in the NCAA Ski Championships. In 1958, Shelly took the position of Assistant Sports Technical Director for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. He was involved in the Competition Jury, was the Chief Gatekeeper for Alpine events and appointed "Advisor to Nevada Governor Grant Sawyer for the Winter Olympics". After the Olympics, he was off to Denver, Colorado as the Executive Director of the National Ski Association of America and continued working with the U.S. Olympic Committee and as Chairman of the International Ski Competition Committee. 1962 brought Shelly back to Reno for two more years as Nevada's Ski Coach. In 1964, Chelton accepted the position as Convention Director for John Ascuaga's Nugget until his recall to active duty military in 1967. The next six years were spent as the Deputy State Director for Selective Service in Carson City. Shelly eventually retired from the Army as a Colonel.
The next fifteen years were filled living his passion, as a Ski Instructor and Ski School Director at Ski Incline/Diamond Peak. The off seasons found him selling real estate around Incline Village and Carson City. His love of skiing, mountains and the Army, had Chelton traveling the world with the 10th Mountain Division Association and the International Federation of Mountain Soldiers. He became lifelong friends with many of his former adversaries, including a German General. In 1992 Shelly was inducted into the University of Nevada Athletic Hall of Fame for Skiing and as Coach of the Ski Team. He also was a high school football referee in northern Nevada and Colorado for 24 years. With his son in Scouts, he held positions on the Nevada Area Council Executive Committee, Scoutmaster and Explorer Post Advisor.
Chelton is survived by his sister Jennie "Louise" McGill of Gambrills MD, son Peter (Jan) Leonard of Carson City, grandchildren Shari (Ed) Peterman of Carson City, Ben (Shasta) Leonard of Las Vegas, Laura (Sean) Leonard of Carson City, great-grandchildren Brennan, Hawley and Emalia Peterman, nephews Allan McGill of Edmond OK, David (Sally) McGill of Elliott City MD, Mike Leonard of Lexington KY, Louie Leonard of Carson City, nieces Kathy (Gary) Dawson of Reno, Sue (Edgar) Villarreal of Reno, and numerous great nephews and great nieces.
A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, April 12th, 4:00 p.m. at Hilltop Community Church, 3588 Romans Road, Carson City, located across Hwy. 395 from Target and Home Depot.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Western Skisport Museum, 19865 Boreal Ridge Road, Soda Springs, CA 95728.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Reno Gazette Journal and Lyon County News Leader on Apr. 10, 2011.
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