Doug Betters discovered Montana’s Flathead Valley while playing football at University of Montana Grizzlies in the mid-70s. He joined his teammates in Whitefish for a broom hockey match in which the referees chainsawed inches off brooms for infractions. After the game, he grabbed face shots in 17 inches of powder on Whitefish Mountain Resort and dove into the rabid nightlife. In short, he was hooked on Whitefish.

But the Miami Dolphins snapped up Betters for a 10 year stint that included two Superbowls, two years as an All Pro, and 1983 Defensive Player of the Year. While he baked in Florida’s summer heat, he purchased a house on Whitefish Lake to spend his off seasons skiing.

Between his Superbowl stints in 1984, Betters found the time to launch the Winter Classic in conjunction with Whitefish Mountain Resort. He continues to organize the event over two decades later.

In February 1998, Betters crashed skiing down Ptarmigan Bowl on Big Mountain and broke a vertebra. The trauma to his spine placed him in a wheelchair and cancelled the Winter Classic event for that year. Ironically, his accident put him in a position to understand what many Flathead families go through trying to get medical help for their kids. “It’s really hard to ask for help,” said Betters. “So we try to make asking for help as painless as possible.”

Doug Betters has not only been recognized by his own community for his charitable contributions, but he has received many awards, including the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Montana Award in August, 2002. In addition to continuing to raise funds for children during the Winter Classic, Betters has been involved with raising money for organizations which include Arlington Heights Park Foundation, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Special Olympics, United Way, and Kalispell Regional Medical Center Foundation.

1973	Arlington Heights High School, Illinois All-American
1974-76	University of Montana Grizzlies Defensive Lineman
1976	Larry Miller Award for Outstanding Defensive Lineman
1975-76	All-Big Sky Conference Selection
1977	University of Nevada, Reno, All-American Honors
1978	Drafted in sixth round to Miami Dolphins
1978-88	Member of the infamous Killer B’s defense
1983-84	Miami Dolphins top defensive lineman
1983	NFL Defensive Player of the Year
1983	NFL All-Pro Team
1983	Super Bowl
1985	Super Bowl
1995	University of Montana Asst. Coach, National Championships
1996	University of Montana Asst. Coach, Second in National Championships
2003	Grizzly Hall of Fame

146 career NFL games
43 1/2 career sacks