Herman Smith-Johannsen

Herman "Jackrabbit" Smith-Johannsen (June 15, 1875 – January 5, 1987) was a Norwegian-Canadian supercentenarian who gained widespread recognition for being one of the first people to introduce the sport of cross-country skiing to Canada and North America. He attained legendary status in Canada for the many contributions he made to the sport and for his personal longevity.

Johannsen was born in the town of Horten, some fifty miles south of Norway's capital Oslo, and graduated with an engineering degree from the University of Berlin in 1899. He emigrated to the USA as a machinery salesman shortly thereafter. In 1907, Johannsen immigrated to Canada with his family and settled in the Laurentians in the French speaking province of Quebec. Johannsen learnt French and further introduced skiing to the area.

While on a trip to Canada to sell machinery to the Canadian Grand Trunk Railway in 1902, Johannsen was befriended by the First Nations Cree in the wilderness above North Bay, Ontario. The nickname Jackrabbit is said to have been given to him by the Cree, who were impressed by his speed on skis compared to the snowshoes they were using at the time.

Johannsen married Alice Robinson in 1907 and settled permanently in the Laurentians region of Quebec in Canada during the Great Depression. He is credited with building many ski jumps and blazing trails throughout Ontario, the Eastern Townships and the Laurentians. On December 22, 1972, Johannsen was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for fostering and developing skiing as a recreation and helping and encouraging generations of skiers in Canada. [ [http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=2063 Order of Canada ] ]

Jackrabbit died from pneumonia on January 5, 1987 at the age of 111 in a hospital near Tønsberg, Norway. He has been posthumously recognized as the oldest living man for the last month of his life.

ee also

* Longevity
* Oldest people
* Supercentenarian

References

* Johannsen, Alice E.(1993). The Legendary Jackrabbit Johannsen. McGill-Queens University Press. ISBN 0-7735-1151-2
* Powell, Brian et al. (1975). Jackrabbit His First Hundred Years. Collier Macmillan Canada, Ltd.
* Norton, Phillip. "Jackrabbit Johannsen. The Pioneer of Skiing in Canada". Canadian Geographic Magazine, Apr/May-1987:18-23.

External links

* [http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=853&lan=0 Cross Country Canada]
* [http://laurentian.quebecheritageweb.com/article_details.aspx?articleId=82 Laurentian Heritage]