Birthday celebration in South Lake Tahoe for 99-year-old Martin Hollay

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - From his birthplace in Hungary in 1920 to the slopes of Heavenly Mountain Resort, Martin Hollay has been both an inspiration and a legend. On Friday, November 1, Hollay turns 99 and there will be a party in his honor in South Lake Tahoe.

Join the festivities at Himmel Haus at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come by and say "Happy Birthday."

He has written a book, has a display about him at the Lake Tahoe Historical Museum, has a hiking trail, tree grove and granite peak named after him on the slopes of Heavenly, served in the Air Force during World War II, spent two years in prison camp, escaped from the Communists to Austria, emigrated to America, ski raced at Mammoth and Lake Tahoe, laid out the cross-country course for the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics, and skied the torch for the Salt Lake Olympics.

The Himmel Haus is located at 3819 Saddle Rd, South Lake Tahoe, just at the base of the mountains that once employed him and now greet him as he heads up to ski almost daily each season.