JACK R. BENEDICT, SR. 

Class of 1960
​Inducted in 2009

​Jack was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jack R. Benedick joined the U.S. Army after graduating with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Sociology and Psychology. After completing basic training and advance infantry training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia, he was selected for office candidate school at Ft. Benning, Georgia.

After graduation, he attended jump school then was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division at Ft. Filey, Kansas for training and deployment to Vietnam in 1967. Jack returned home for 10 months, and then began his second tour in Vietnam, where he stepped on a land mine in April 1968, losing both legs below the knee.  He was awarded the Silver Star (2), the Bronze Star with Valor; the Purple Heart (2), the Cross of Gallantry, the Army Commendation Medal (2) and The Legion of Merit.  He recuperated in Denver where he took up skiing as part of the Amputee Rehabilitation Program, and quickly became an accomplished racer.  He returned to active  duty military duty for 10 more years. 

Jack retired from the Army as a Major in 1978, and became increasingly involved in the US Disabled Ski Team, where he served as Director. He eventually served as Director on committees for International Paralympics and the International Ski Federation, as well as the US Skiing and Snowboard Association.