Dick Pope Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dick Pope Jr.
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| Born |
Richard Downing Pope Jr.
December 12, 1930 Long Island, N.Y.
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| Died | November 8, 2007 (aged 76) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Organization | Cypress Gardens |
| Known for | World Championships, inventing barefooting |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Pope |
| Parent(s) | Dick Pope Sr. |
Richard Downing Pope Jr. (born December 12, 1930 – died November 8, 2007) was a famous water skier. He was known as Dick Pope Jr. He became a World Champion in water skiing. He also helped lead important businesses in Central Florida.
Dick Pope Jr. changed the sport of water skiing. He helped invent barefoot skiing in 1947. He was the son of Dick Pope Sr., who started the Cypress Gardens theme park.
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About Dick Pope Jr.
Dick Pope Jr. was born in Long Island, New York. When he was just 18 months old, his family moved to Winter Haven, Florida. In 1936, his parents, Dick Pope Sr. and Julie Pope, opened Cypress Gardens. This was one of America's first theme parks. His father, Dick Pope Sr., helped Florida tourism grow. He also helped make water skiing popular.
Dick Pope Jr. served in the United States Marine Corps. He loved hunting and fishing. He was also a very good marksman. He was a champion at skeet shooting. Dick Pope Jr. and his wife, Frances, even won a world title together for skeet shooting.
The Pope family helped bring Walt Disney World to Florida. When Walt Disney was looking for a place to build a new park, the Popes promoted Central Florida. Dick Pope Jr. helped convince Walt Disney to choose Orlando.
His Water Skiing Adventures
In 1947, Dick Pope Jr. made history. He was one of the first people to successfully barefoot water ski. He and his friends in Winter Haven, Florida found out how to do it. They learned that if the boat went fast enough, you could ski without skis!
Pictures and news videos of Pope barefoot skiing became famous worldwide. He skied at speeds over 40 miles per hour. His father, Dick Pope Sr., used this to get attention for Cypress Gardens. This also helped make water skiing popular everywhere. That same year, at age 17, Dick Pope Jr. won his first National Water Ski Title.
In 1949, Pope competed in the first Water Skiing World Championships. He took big risks while skiing. In 1950, he won his first World Title. He was especially good at tricks. He was known for a trick called "climbing the rope." This helped him jump higher. This trick is now banned because it is very dangerous. In 1952, he was the first person to do a 540-degree jump off a ramp.
Leading Cypress Gardens
Dick Pope Jr. took over from his father as president of Cypress Gardens in 1962. In 1972, he made the company public. This meant people could buy shares in it. In 1982, he became the chairman of the board. Later, the company was sold to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.
His Big Wins
- 1947 National Overall Champion
- 1948 National Overall Champion
- 1949 National Overall Champion
- 1950 National Overall Champion
- 1950 World Slalom Champion
- 1950 World Jump Runner-up
- 1950 World Tricks Fifth Place
- 1950 World Overall Champion
See also
- Waterskiing
- World water skiing champions
- Barefoot skiing
- List of Water Skiing Hall of Fame Inductees
- USA Water Ski
- United States Waterskiing Team
