Dave McCoy was a pioneering Eastern Sierra skier, visionary, and entrepreneur whose passion for skiing began in high school and led him to join the Eastern Sierra Ski Culb. In 1936, he was hired by LADWP as a hydrographer and conducted snow surveys while skiing across the Eastern Sierra. Recognizing the region's abundant snowfall, he began to dream of developing a ski area there. In 1938, he built the region's first permanent rope tow at McGee Mountain. In 1941, Dave and his wife Roma relocated to Mammoth Mountain, where they erected the first lodge in 1947. Mammoth Mountain ski area was officially incorporated in 1955, and he served as its leader for the next 50 years, expanding and improving the facilities into a world class ski resort. Through his vision, efforts, and commitment to skiing in the Eastern Sierra, his name became forever linked to Mammoth Mountain and the growth of Southern Mono County.