​The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award is Don Bucher.
Don Bucher is an Indiana farmer who has been active in water skiing for nearly 70 years. He is a member of the Indiana Water Ski Hall of Fame and a water skiing legend in the Midwest.
Don was eight years old when he hit the water for the first time and has never looked back. Don entered his first Indiana State Tournament in jump competition in 1964, and from there, Don went on to rack up accomplishments on and off the water. He qualified for his first nationals in 2001 and was the Midwest region Men's 6 Slalom Champion in 2008. Don has held ratings as a Senior Judge, Senior Driver, Senior Scorer, State Safety Director, Announcer, and Instructor.
A longtime tournament director, Don started the Water Ski Inc. Ski Team with Jerry Hickman at Hidden Lake in Warsaw, Indiana, in 1974 and organized the Hoosier Classic Pro Water Ski Tournaments from 1975 to 1978. Don built the first man-made ski lake in Indiana in 1978: Cindonway Shores.
"It was always our mission to provide the very best competition opportunities for water skiers and the very best events," says Don. "It was about great times, great memories, meeting people, and just being involved in water skiing."
Don has also led water skiing from several board positions, including Midwest Region Executive Vice President 1999-2006, AWSA Board of Directors 1997-2009, AWSA Vice President 2001-2007, USA Water Ski Board of Directors Midwest Director 1999-2009, and Chairman of USA Water Ski Board of Directors 2008-2009. He currently serves on the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Board of Trustees.
But for Don, the most rewarding part of his water skiing journey is now watching seven of his nine grandchildren water ski. Don's enthusiasm for water skiing has never faltered.
Don will be honored along with 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Scot Ellis and Award of Distinction recipients Bob Archer, Mike "Mack" Makridichian, Mike Mckelheer, Jeff Surdej, and Geno Yauchler on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven, Florida. #usawwf #waterskihalloffame #waterskihistory #waterski