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Douglas Ramsay

1961 U.S. World Team alternate

Douglas Alexander Ramsay, 16, was both a hockey enthusiast and an extraordinary free skater who has been compared to champions Dick Button, Ronnie Robertson, David Jenkins and Scott Hamilton. Ramsay was the second child of Alex and Jean Ramsay's four children. His little brother, David, never skated but sisters Judy and Christine skated briefly with him at the Detroit Skating Club. At age 8, Doug began training with coach Bill Swallender and traveled with him to Canada, Lake Placid, N.Y., and East Lansing, Mich., for summer skating. Beginning in 1955 he enjoyed a string of Midwestern championships, winning the juvenile, novice and junior titles. Due to weak figures, he had limited success at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but in 1960 he captured the junior men's title in one of the closest results in history. At the 1961 U.S. Championships, Ramsay placed fourth and was named first alternate to the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Team. When bronze medalist Tim Brown withdrew due to health problems, U.S. Figure Skating invited Ramsay to join the team a week before the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships. Although Ramsay placed fourth in Philadelphia, he was a huge sensation at his first international competition. The last-minute inclusion of Ramsay on the 1961 U.S. World Team prompted his coach, Bill Swallender, to fly with him to Prague.

Bio written by Patricia Shelley Bushman, author of Indelible Tracings.