And in sports news, former Frisco second homeowner Whitey Herzog has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Whitey, 78, is best known as the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.

He lived part-time in Frisco on North Sixth Avenue, in River Pines, a Larry Feldman development, back in the ’90s.

Whitey’s 18-year managerial career produced 1,281 wins and postseason appearances by six of his clubs.

He led the Kansas City Royals to three straight American League West titles from 1976-78, before leading the Cards to the ’82 World Series title and the 1985 and 1987 National League pennants.

Whitey is a good friend of Bill DeForrest, former manager of the Holiday Inn here, who later was a VP at Copper Mountain Resort.

Bill has been the president and CEO of Lane Hospitality, based in Chicago, for nearly a decade.

“I am very excited for Whitey and as I told him yesterday I am glad the veterans committee got things right and recognized his incredible achievements,” Bill says.

“Although I think he is the best manager baseball ever had, I am fortunate to have gotten to know he is an even better husband, father and just a great guy,” adds Bill. “My travel plans have already been made to be in Cooperstown (N.Y.) for his induction on July 25.”

Major Baseball League Commissioner Bud Selig says, “Whitey had a great impact on our game, managing consistently winning teams with a unique combination of speed and defense.”

Whitey’s son, Jim, used to work at Keystone Resort, but now lives back in St. Louis.

“Jim and I have stayed good friends,” offers Bill. “After a four-year battle with cancer, his wife passed away about two years ago, so he has been raising his two boys.”

According to Bill, Jim has a resort representation business and still works with Copper on sourcing and bringing in group business.

“He is a great salesman with lots of friends and long-term clients, so I am sure he is great at it,” Bill says.

Congrats to Whitey and his family.

In Denver at the Ritz Carlton this week, Bill notes ex-Copper CEO Harry Mosgrove is on the Lane board of directors.

After the board meeting, Bill headed over to his brother’s home to see Kevin’s three boys – 5, 2 and four months. Kevin lived in Frisco and worked at Copper Mountain.

Bill’s email: BDeForrest@lanehospitality.com

***

Sandy Mortensen and Lou Wagner went to Snowmass last week for Lou’s 69th birthday.

“We were riding the bus from the parking lot to Snowmass Village, when a voice said, ‘Lou and Sandy, is that you?’ We were all bundled up in our ski gear so recognizing anyone was difficult,” says Lou.

That voice belonged to Joyce Nenninger. She and husband Fritz left Summit County four years ago for Carbondale after a successful career in real estate.

“Like us, they were heading up to ski some new powder on The Burn,” Lou reports. “We decided to take a few runs, and ended up skiing the whole day together, recalling many fun days from our lives in Summit County and elsewhere.”

The Nenningers send fond regards to their many friends here.

***

In an economy stimulus idea, Bradford Foreman is offering any local start-up or expanding /existing Summit business 650 prime square feet on the second floor of Silverthorne’s Blue River Plaza (191 Blue River Plaza).

“Here is what we are doing: I am interested in the company with the best business plan and offering a participating +CAM Lease to help you get started,” explains Brad. “It is one of our first opportunities to try this kind of ‘incubator’ concepts, so please let us know if you are interested.”

Brad’s cell: 309-721-4715

***

Among some of those attending Margaret Purnell and Rudy Deutschmann’s Medicare 2010 info talk on Tuesday at the Summit County Community and Senior Center were Dan Burnett, Sandy Greenhut, Karin Henszey, Barbara Zeek, and Pat and Larry Schmidt.

“This is clarifying what Medicare is about these days,” Margaret offers. “It’s a very complicated field.”

••••

Miles F. Porter IV, nicknamed “Spike,” a Coloradan since 1949, is an Army veteran, former Climax miner, graduate of Adams State College, and a resident of Summit County since 1982. An award-winning investigative reporter, he and wife Mary E. Staby owned newspapers in Summit County for 20 years.

Email your social info to milesfporteriv@aol.com