Douglas Ramsay
Encyclopedia
Douglas Ramsay was an American
figure skater who competed in men's singles.
Known as "Dick Button Jr.", he early won the reputation of being a particularly charismatic free skater and an audience favorite.. After placing 4th at the Junior level at the 1959 United States Figure Skating Championships
, in 1960 he narrowly won the Junior title over Bruce Heiss (brother of Carol Heiss
) and Frank Carroll
with a performance described as "dazzling".
Ramsay was the only skater to perform a triple jump at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships
, where he finished only fourth due to a poor performance in compulsory figures
. However, due to the illness of bronze medalist Tim Brown, he was selected to compete at the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships
and World Figure Skating Championships
as the alternate. At the North American Championships in Philadelphia, Ramsay again established himself as "the darling of the audience" and finished fourth in spite of missing a double axel.
Ramsay was en route to the World Championships in 1961 when his plane (Sabena Flight 548
) crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing all on board. He was 16 at the time of his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skater who competed in men's singles.
Known as "Dick Button Jr.", he early won the reputation of being a particularly charismatic free skater and an audience favorite.. After placing 4th at the Junior level at the 1959 United States Figure Skating Championships
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
, in 1960 he narrowly won the Junior title over Bruce Heiss (brother of Carol Heiss
Carol Heiss
Carol Elizabeth Heiss Jenkins is an American figure skater. She is the 1960 Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles, 1956 Olympic silver medalist and five-time World Champion .-Biography:...
) and Frank Carroll
Frank Carroll
Francis M. "Frank" Carroll is an American figure skating coach and former competitive skater. He has coached three skaters to win the World Figure Skating Championships: Linda Fratianne, Michelle Kwan, and Evan Lysacek...
with a performance described as "dazzling".
Ramsay was the only skater to perform a triple jump at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships
1961 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships were held at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from January 25 to January 29, 1961. The competition was dedicated to the memory of Howard D...
, where he finished only fourth due to a poor performance in compulsory figures
Compulsory figures
Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport of figure skating, from which the sport derives its name. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight...
. However, due to the illness of bronze medalist Tim Brown, he was selected to compete at the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships
North American Figure Skating Championships
The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.Although the event was classified as an...
and World Figure Skating Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
as the alternate. At the North American Championships in Philadelphia, Ramsay again established himself as "the darling of the audience" and finished fourth in spite of missing a double axel.
Ramsay was en route to the World Championships in 1961 when his plane (Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548, registration OO-SJB, was a Boeing 707 aircraft that crashed en route to Brussels, Belgium, from New York City on February 15, 1961, killing the entire United States Figure Skating team on its way to the 1961 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.The flight, which...
) crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing all on board. He was 16 at the time of his death.
Results
| Event | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North American Championships North American Figure Skating Championships The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.Although the event was classified as an... |
4th | ||
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
4th J. | 1st J. | 4th |
- N. = novice, J. = junior