European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Pepi Bader in rear holds on As two Man Bob sled zips Down course at High Speed. By boo Odem staff writer in 1959 a 17-year-old German boy was hired by the von Steuben hotel in Garmisch As an apprentice waiter. To Day that waiter Pepi Bader is a hero among americans As Well As Ger mans. Bader was the brakeman on Ger Many s no. 1 two Man bobsled team in the Grenoble olympics which tie Italy for first place and amid the Hue and cry of Many was cheated out of a Gold medal. But to Pepi it really did t least he did t show it. Modest and quiet Pepi described it in fluent eng Lish As just one of those to Pepi life is looking for a Rich girl who owns a hotel so he can run the hotel and the girl. But to look attorn a ruggedly handsome 6-foot-3, 210pounder, he s probably doing the run Ning All right away from German sports figures become famous they usually enter the singing business says Bader. But not Pepi. Is waiting for the 1972 olympics i Japan so he can win that Gold medal that eluded him. In the von Stop bin s delightful Jae Ger stube Pepi told his Story. It All started in 19 52 when a Friend Beni steer son of the Star German Brake inh. Fr1 Osier got Pepi interest Din bobsledding. Under the older Ostler s guidance Epi became so Good so fast that he mushed second in the 1962 and 1963german championships. After Ostler retired in 1963, Pepin qualified for the 1964 Innsbruck Olynn i but a last minute change kept him a compel ing. Naturally he was Dis appointed. I9l i5 a i began to move and Wash � ii,1 a Germany s four Man world lie bobsled m 68 Bader was nominated Aston my Rve Blackman for uie two Man the olympics. Germany to Okwu Man teams to Grenoble but Only two could compete. Final selection would be there. In the trials the Ger Man coach found out that Pepi waste fastest Start of All the olympic competitors. Pepi got a break when a car Acci Dent sidelined the brakeman on the no. 3 team. But the German coach still was undecided on entering Bader. Just before the olympics retired Itali an bobsled Der Rico Siro Paes six time world Champ along with Eugenio Monti told the German coach he would be crazy not to put Pepi with Germany Best Driver Horst Floth. That did it. Pepi was finally recognized. The rest is in the books. The Floth Bader team led by l-10th second going into the final run of the four run event. Almost unbelievable the two team Shad wound up with identical aggregate times of four minutes 41 45 seconds but Trio italians made the last run in 1 10.05 to the germans 1 10.15, an thereby were awarded first place. _ at the 1,000-meter Mark on the final run the germans led the italians. The italians in no. 6 starting position were clocked at 51.72 seconds and the Floth Bader duo which started 13th. Came through at 51.62. Only 500 meter remained and Monti who scrutinized the clock throughout the run though the germans were going to win. Coming out of the final turn we zigzagged on the Short Straightway 30 meters from the finish line Pepi said unsure of what happened. There was no wind resistance and 1didn t look As to came out. 1 can t say if it was too Early or too late. I must have been too late Pepi said. To went to the right hit the Side of the run and came Back to the Lett it was enough to lose 20-100s of a Sec Ond and a Gold medal. Pepi recalls Monti racing 200 meter Uphill to congratulate them. He threw army tables Are turned at von Steuben hotel As Pepi is served dinner As an olympic tribute by Gold medal winning chef Vitus Lunz. His arms around us and seemed very Happy Bader said. Monti must have been Happy for him self As Well. The 10-time world Cham Pion had never won an olympic Goldmedal. Pepi was a Gold medal Winner Forone hour. Upwards of 50 telegrams poured in Franz Josef Strauss Willy Brandt and other notables sent their congratulations. Then the judges Rule the italians winners by virtue of the fastest single run. Back in Garmisch the von Steuben hotel wat a Madhouse. At that moment there was no Way in the world for someone to get service said hotel manager Gerhard Boehm As Pepi fellow waiters had their eyes glued on the Friday april 26, 1968 the stars and stripes the americans were such goo sports said Boehm who has been with the . Army for 20 years that the were cheering along with at the Start of this interview Foo was needed for a picture with Bader and von Steuben s Gold medal chef Vitus Lunz. The biggest Steak in the House was prepared and Pepi jokingly said this is the Only thing 1 have Ever received free just what Are the brakeman s duties on a bobsled the Public Only knows that the sled goes fast and that it i fascinating to watch. At the Start the Driver runs about10 Yards and hops on. The brakeman goes an extra 25 Yards and then climbs continued on Iii to t Page u
