The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award is Don Bucher.
Don will be honored along with 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Scot Ellis and Award of Distinction recipients Bob Archer, Mike "Mack" Makridichian, Mike Mckelheer, Jeff Surdej, and Geno Yauchler on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven, Florida.
For more information on the Ceremony, go HERE. Tickets to the event go on sale January 1, 2025.
Don Bucher is an Indiana farmer who has been active in water skiing for nearly 70 years. He is a member of the Indiana Water Ski Hall of Fame and a water skiing legend in the Midwest.
Don was eight years old when he hit the water for the first time and has never looked back. He started doing ski shows with the Dewart Lake (Indiana) skiers when he was just 10. Don entered his first Indiana State Tournament in jump competition in 1964, and from there, Don went on to rack up accomplishments on and off the water.
He qualified for his first nationals in 2001 and was the Midwest region Men's 6 Slalom Champion in 2008. Don has held ratings as a Senior Judge, Senior Driver, Senior Scorer, State Safety Director, Announcer, and Instructor.
A longtime tournament director, Don helped organize the first two Indiana State Show Tournaments at Dewart Lake in 1971-72 and the State Tournament held at Pike Lake in Warsaw, Indiana, in 1973. Don started the Water Ski Inc. Ski Team with Jerry Hickman at Hidden Lake in Warsaw, Indiana, in 1974 and organized the Hoosier Classic Pro Water Ski Tournaments from 1975 to 1978.
"It was always our mission to provide the very best competition opportunities for water skiers and the very best events," says Don. "It was about great times, great memories, meeting people, and just being involved in water skiing."
Don built the first man-made ski lake in Indiana in 1978: Cindonway Shores. With his wife, Peggy, and the Water Ski Inc. Team, Don has hosted hundreds of sanctioned events at Cindonway Shores since 1983. In 1986, Don received the coveted Rollie Williams Award for his contributions to water skiing.
Don is a super official and is always one of the first to step up to help. At the Midwest Regionals, he has served as Chief Judge, Chief Driver, Chief Announcer, and Appointed Judge and Driver nearly every year. At the AWSA Nationals, he served as an Appointed Driver in 1990 and 2000. He was Appointed Judge in 1999, 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2009, Assigned Judge in 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2004, Appointed Scorer in 2006, and Assistant Chief Judge in 2005.
Don has also led water skiing from several board positions, including Midwest Region Executive Vice President 1999-2006, AWSA Board of Directors - 1997-2009, AWSA Vice President 2001-2007, USA Water Ski Board of Directors - Midwest Director 1999-2009
and Chairman of USA Water Ski Board of Directors 2008-2009. And he currently serves on the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Board of Trustees.
But for Don, the most rewarding part of his water skiing journey is now watching seven of his nine grandchildren water ski. Four of those grandkids were on the podium at least once at the 2024 Goode AWSA Water Ski Nationals.
"It's so nice to see the next generation on the water. I will continue to compete as long as I can because my grandchildren want me to ski in tournaments with them," says Don.
Don's enthusiasm for water skiing has never faltered. He is still looking for ways to grow and contribute to our sport, including passing the handle!
Huge Congratulations to Don! We can't wait to celebrate in May! For more information on the Host Hotel and the Hall of Fame weekend schedule, go HERE.
Established in 1968, the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation celebrates the history of all towed water sports and promotes these sports through our Scholarship Programs and the Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame.
