In profiling the UnTours Foundation Board, there is of course the big cheese, Hal Taussig. The fact that Hal is co-founder and president of this almost 20-year old foundation is a bit odd in that Hal doesn’t believe in non-profits as a serious tool for addressing real change in the world. But Hal had business profits to offer as capital to vulnerable populations around the world, and the foundation was a tool that could achieve that. Hal didn’t tell anyone about the foundation until I came along 8 years ago when I slowly persuaded him to share his story.
Here’s a little more on Hal:
Favorite novel: An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
Childhood ambition: to climb up Ute Pass in Colorado and see what was on the other side Biggest challenge: getting the chance to climb up Ute Pass!
Earliest childhood memory: that my school was really far away from the world and quite cozy
First job: killing gophers on my parents’ ranch for 2 cents/tail, and using the money once a year to buy fireworks with my brothers and cousins
Last job: college professor – working for myself at UnTours never felt like a job
Animal friends: my childhood horse, Bill, who took us to school everyday. Caesar was another great horse
Hero: Abraham Lincoln
Sweet or salty: sweet and probably chocolate
Favorite comedian: Bob Hope
Indulgence: a daily glass of red wine
Pet peeve: cars that cut in front of bikes
Most unusual gift received: a one legged milking stool
Shore or mountains: mountains
Colorado or Swiss mountains: basically a tie
A favorite destination: Switzerland’s Rosenlau Schlucht
Passionate issue: getting everyone on bikes
Proudest accomplishment: not owning a car
Favorite meal: breakfast………pancakes and eggs
“A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don’t need it.” Bob Hope