A.G. Hancock

American Water Ski Educational Foundation Award of Distinction 1995

Inducted into the Florida Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame 2003

A.G. Hancock of Winter Haven gained national fame in 1947 when Chuck Sligh was visiting Winter Haven and saw how easily A.G. mastered a pair of show skis that Sligh had brought with him from Michigan. Sligh then challenged A.G. to try skiing without skis and he did so successfully. Sligh reported this amazing feat to Dick Pope at Cypress Gardens and Pope tried to get A.G. to come to the Gardens for a demonstration, but the youngster was committed to leave on vacation. Pope then encouraged his son Dick, Jr., to give it a try and the rest is history. (Deceased)