Don Francis

At the conclusion of the 2020 Michigan 3 Event State Championship tournament, Don Francis concluded 17 years of leadership as Michigan Water Ski Association President and informed other board members of his retirement from the MWSA board. While many are aware of Don’s service and contribution to water skiing in Michigan, some may not realize that his significant MWSA presence was a relatively short portion of his overall participation in, and passion for, water skiing.
As a youngster, Don was the oldest of his male cousins and often the first amongst them to attempt new activities or new sports. Don’s father was a competitive swimmer and there were many extended family vacations that centered around lakes and water recreation. It was during these vacations, including cottage stays on Torch Lake, where a teenaged Don started water skiing behind a boat owned by one of his uncles. The challenging, physical engagement of skiing and the opportunity to continually advance in skill fueled his interest to maintain an active connection to the sport during each summer.
Later, as the financial resources associated with his career became available, Don sought out opportunities to maximize his enjoyment of water sports. In 1972, he and his brother purchased a house on Middle Straits Lake, with the intention of skiing regularly. They bought a jet boat and became avid skiers. As his adventuresome nature continually emerged, Don kept trying new maneuvers on the water, such as the “big spray” turns, “hot-dog” skiing, barefoot skiing, and other experimental ski moves. Don and his brother pursued the installation of a slalom course on Middle Straits Lake, but the other residents objected. Don met more skiers on the lake and eventually also started taking the jet boat to other lakes, including lakes with ski courses.
In 1979, Don met Sheryl Barber and she joined in on the water ski fun. Initially, they continued a lot of free skiing on Middle Straits Lake, Orchard Lake, and the various lakes in Southeast Michigan, but a friend with a Supra ski boat helped Don realize the advantages over the jet boat and an interest in skiing the slalom course fully emerged.
In the 80s, Don’s pursuit of the slalom course began in earnest, as a logical progression of his competitive nature. It was during this time, that Don spent time on Williams Lake and met Bud Shear, who held a Summer Festival ski tournament and had a ski club on the lake. It was at Williams Lake, as their new ski club site, where practice on the slalom course began to generate a lot of improvement. Bud was able to provide expertise, experience, a Ski Supreme boat, and coaching to help Don advance.
About this same time, Don was also taking some slalom lessons at the G and L Training Center site in Charlotte (later Water Ski Paradise). In the mid 80s and as Don entered his 40s, he began his tournament experience and competed in some of the informal tournaments at that site. He also helped with the Pro Tour events that attracted thousands of spectators (and headlined ESPN “Hot Summer Nights” broadcasts). During the heyday of the sport, the thrill of skiing and the opportunity to participate was never greater. At one point, Don partnered in a Florida lakeside condo purchase for a winter location of the G and L Ski School. Unfortunately, the school experienced difficulty co-existing with the other residents of the lake and the property was eventually sold.
As Don began to compete in regular sanctioned tournaments, he met some of Michigan’s more accomplished skiers and local leaders, including Bill Murbach, Dave Grude, Lowry Brown, and Jerry Hosner. Circa 1988, he competed in the novice division, running a 32 mph pass and even receiving a trophy. At the MWSA Ski Fest in the late 80s, Don and Sheryl met Mary and Ken Clark. With insightful coaching and a vision of a future private ski site, Mary and Ken partnered with Don and Sheryl at a site near Lansing called Tchoupitoula. The years spent at Tchoupitoula helped Don and Sheryl become true tournament skiers. Mary and Ken showed them that understanding tournament skiing was not only training to improve skills, but also becoming officials to run the events, having a boat to train with, and preparing the site for a multitude of novice events held there. Don even spent time as a promo driver for the American Skier boat company. After 10 years at the site with Mary and Ken, the lake was sold. But, the experience and the tutelage from Mary and Ken became the most influential piece of their skiing.
In early 2000, Don and Sheryl became ski club members at Hidden Lake. They gained experience running some events there and later, with Terry Turner at Lake Lynette, started the MWSA Slalom Ability Series. In 2004, Don and Sheryl joined at Lake Jepawhit, where they helped put on many local tournaments, along with Junior Development Clinics – some led by pro skiers like Rhoni Barton and Brandi Hunt. There were also 4 Big Dawg events, 2 Pro Tour Events, and numerous Michigan 3 Event State Championship tournaments.
In 2003, Don was asked to become MWSA President. Initially, he assumed it would be a commitment of just a couple of years. But, as he worked with the various board members over the years (most notably Dan Connelly, Mark Boender, Mark Johnson, Doug Rooker, Laura Burdick, and Phil and Carol Oppenhiem) he continued to work at increasing the participation and involvement of all of the watersports disciplines into a more cohesive organization with greater visibility. He credits his many years as President of MWSA as successful because of their support and diligence. As additional board members joined or replaced others and brought new energy and commitment, he felt that the continued mission of MWSA was ready to continue beyond his tenure.
Among his most notable skiing-related high points, Don notes his 1999 qualification for, and competition in, the USA Water Ski Nationals at Paradise Lakes in Bakersfield, California. The success of the Ability Series was also satisfying, as is the frequently high entry count at the Michigan 3 Event State Championships, with some events exceeding 100 competitors. Don is also proud of Michigan as a very active water ski community and very active regionally, compared to other states, with a very busy summer tournament schedule every year.
In 2016, Don was inducted into the Michigan Water Ski Association Hall of Fame.
Of course, Don’s most successful event was his 1989 marriage to Sheryl, who has shared his love of the sport and has also contributed much time and energy to officiating, running tournaments, and supporting MWSA and Michigan water skiing.
Don is very thankful for the great support from the boat dealers: Jeff Smith at Silver Spray Sports, Jerry Brouwer at Action Watersports, and Ron and Mary Koenig during their time with Skiers Pier. Each dealer was very supportive during Don’s tenure with MWSA and made his efforts to promote water skiing much easier.
Don credits his biggest influences as Mary and Ken Clark and Bud Shear. They helped him with judging and all aspects of tournament skiing and slalom course technique. As it began years ago and accelerated over the decades, Don’s enjoyment of the slalom course continues and, as many Michigan skiers might wish, often sees an extended season in warmer winter locales.