Monty HOYT

Monty Hoyt was from a wealthy Denver family, his father, Palmer, the editor and publisher of The Denver Post from 1946-70. His mother was a Denver socialite, Helen May Hoyt, and it was described that they “entertained presidents, Supreme Court justices, opera stars, advice columnists, publishing magnates.” Monty Hoyt came to national attention when he won the 1959 US Novice title. In 1961 he won the US Junior title and was supposed to attend the 1961 World Championships. But he cancelled at the last minute, saving his life when the plane carrying the US figure skating squad crashed near Brussels, killing all aboard. Hoyt went on to win the 1962 US Senior Championship, and placed third in that event in 1963-64. He competed three times at the World Championships, placing sixth in 1962, and 11th in 1963 and 1964. He later graduated from the University of Denver and earned a Marshall Scholarship to Oxford University. He became a Washington correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, worked as a judge for US figure skating events, and was a member of the Presidential Commission on Olympic sports.